Albania is one of the leading countries in the World in terms of international migration, with more than 1.4 million Albanians living abroad and more than 2,500 Ph.D. holders of Albanian origin. This striking fact was presented during the launching event of READ Program. To engage this intellectual potential in the country of origin, the Albanian-American Development Foundation, in coordination with the Institute of International Education, has established the Research Expertise from the Academic Diaspora Fellowship Program (READ). READ Fellowship Program is a 7️-year project that will connect Higher Education Institutions in Albania with the Albanian scientific diaspora and their respective academic institutions.
READ Program will award up to 1️00 fellowship grants to members of the Albanian academic diaspora and up to 1️00 research grants to Albanian resident scholars, aiming to raise institutional capacities and the quality of scientific research.
The first Advisory Council Board was also introduced during the event, constituting of 5 members whose launched the first call starting from January 2022.
The end of the ceremony culminated with the AADF Co-CEOs signing a collaborative agreement with University of Tirana and University of Medicine, to ensure a stronger academic support to the project.
The event and READ program in its entirety were attended and warmly congratulated by
representatives of Higher Education Institutions all over the country, Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, civil society organizations and academics from scientific Diaspora and Albania.