University of Vlora

Infobox University


name=University of Vlora
motto= "Virtus, Scientia, Veritas" (Latin)
mottoeng= Virtue, Science, Truth
tagline= "Leader in education and research in Albania"
established= October 10, 1994
type=Public,
endowment=
chancellor=Tanush Shaska
provost=Engjell Licaj
city= Vlora
state=Vlora
country=Albania
students=14,020cite web | title=University of Vlora Fact Book 2008 | year=2008 | publisher=University of Vlora | url=http://www.univlora.edu.al | format= PDF | accessdate=2008-03-07]
undergrad= 13,208
postgrad=812
faculty=485
staff=195
campus=Urban
colors=Black and Red
nickname =Kuqezinjte
mascot= Flamurtari
athletics =
website= [http://www.univlora.edu.al/ www.univlora.edu.al]

publictransit = |

The University of Vlora (UV) is a public, state supported, doctoral/research university in Vlora, Albania. Founded as "Universiteti Teknologjik Ismail Qemali i Vlores" (Vlora Technological University Ismail Qemali) in 1994 by then President Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, it was the first of many universities to be founded in the post-communist Albania. In a short period of time it has grown to be the second largest university in Albania and it is the leading research university in the country. Its goal is to become one of the leading research institutions in Europe.For more information visit the official Web Site: [http://www.univlora.edu.al University of Vlora]

History of the University

The Founding

The University of Vlora was created in 1994 as a Technological University. It started with a few hundred students and today is the second biggest university in Albania with nearly 15 000 students. It still keeps its focus on technology, but it has expanded in economics and finance, education, medicine, and law.

Location and campus

The UV is located in the heart of Vlora, in Skela region, near the Port of Vlora.Being only a few hundred meters from the coast and overlooking the Bay of Vlora, the university is an excellent place to study and live. UV offers many excellent programs in sciences and engineering.

Academics

It is the academic programs that University of Vlora claims to be the best in the Balkans. They are different from all other universities in Albania. The approach is to check students everyday on their academic progress.

Colleges

Bachelor's, master's, doctoral and professional programs are offered through the following academic units:

International Studies

University of Vlora history of commitment to international education makes it truly the only international university in Albania. Hundreds of internationally known scientists visit University of Vlora every year.

Students will find at the University of Vlora a fully committed faculty and excellent programs which will prepare them to be leaders in the new global economy. UV offers a wide variety of programs in sciences and engineering, business, medical sciences, etc.

UV is always pleased to receive applications from students from all parts of the world, either to take all or part of their degree at Vlora or to participate in any one of exchange programmes. Academic staff also comes to Vlora from all corners of the globe to teach and conduct research in an innovative, vibrant, and future-oriented environment.

Graduate Courses:Tuition for graduate courses for foreign citizens is 50 Euros per credit in addition to registration fees.

Undergraduate courses: Tuition for undergraduate courses for foreign citizens is 30 Euros per credit in addition to registration fees.

Research

UV is the leading research university in Albania. It is the most active university in Albania in organizing research conferences, inviting researchers from leading institutions, and sending its own researchers abroad. Some of the most active areas of research are mathematics, computer science, and engineering. It has also active groups in Albanian literature, economics and finance, folk music and dance, education, etc.

[http://albmath.org/vlconf/ Vlora Conference Center] is a leading group in organizing conferences in Albania and has organized conferences in a yearly bases at the University of Vlora. Its board is made of internationally known scientists.

There are two internationally known journals which call the University of Vlora home. They are the highest quality journals of any Albanian speaking university.

[http://www.albmath.org Albanian Journal of Mathematics]

[http://www.albmath.org/ajme Albanian Journal of Mechanical Engineering]

Many summer schools and training sessions are organized at the University. Vlora is a popular tourist destination and this makes it very attractive for organizing international conferences.

In addition, University of Vlora has excellent programs in naval engineering and navigation. Studying the Bay of Vlora has been one of the main projects of the navigation department in the last few years. The Bay of Vlora is a very important place in World's history with many important facts as Ceasar's battles, medieval times, World War I, and World War II, etc. In the bay is one of the oldest military naval bases in the world which continues to be used to this day. The Naval Base of Pashaliman was the only Russian base in the Mediterranean in the 1950s, it was the hot spot of conflict between the Russians and the Albanians in 1961 when Albania pulled out of the Warsaw Treaty. The Department of Navigation is mapping all the ships sunk in the bay area, is doing research in the area of marine archeology in the ancient town of Orikum (Oricum).

Researchers from UV participate in congresses and conferences all over the world. UV has joint projects and exchange programs with some of the best universities in th world and very actively is trying to expand further such programs. UV has taken the lead in all Albanian institutions to increase active cooperation with western universities and to have research as its first priority.

Community

Vlora is a booming city and the main touristic attraction in Albania. The Bay of Vlora has amazing views and pristine beauty. Most of the local economy is based on the construction industry, tourism, energy, and education. A large part of the economy of the area surrounding Vlora is based on agriculture, especially olive production, oranges, lemons, and all other kinds of Mediterranean fruits.

Below are some links about the city of Vlora and the Laberia region
* [http://www.bashkiavlore.org/ The municipality of Vlora (Bashkia e Vlores)]
* [http://www.qarkuvl.org The region of Vlora (Qarku i Vlores)]
* [http://www.vlora-guide.com/ Vlora Guide]

UV People

Presidents of the University

Throuughout its short history the University of Vlora has been directed by the following three Rectors:
* [http://www.univlora.edu.al/rektor/shaska Tanush Shaska] (2008-2008) is the first elected Rector of the UV. Prof. Shaska has graduated with a BS in Mathematics from The University of Michigan and with PhD in Mathematics from The University of Florida. He is the first true scientist to take over the UV. Prof. Shaska has several books and over 30 research papers in the area of computational algebra, algebraic geometry, coding theory, etc. Under his leadership UV is going through deep changes. Prof. Shaska has never had any political affiliations or any political activity. He received more than 75 % of the vote in January 2008, to become the new Rector of the University of Vlora. The election process was criticized. The best candidates were excluded from voting on technical "irregularities". There was only another one, discredited candidate. Shaska won simply because nobody knew him. Ever since he's been in the eye of the storm for corruption and scandals quite regularly.

* [http://www.univlora.edu.al/rektor/shkurtaj Bilal Shkurtaj (1998-2007)] was appointed as the Rector of the UV after the socialist government took power in 1997 after the riots in Vlora sparked by the fall of pyramid schemes. Prof. Shkurtaj holds a degree in Physics from the University of Tirana. He was considered a puppet of the socialist government and had no academic activity or any scientific publications. He was also a leading figure in the socialist party and continues to this day be involved in the local politics of Vlora. Corruption and chaos were rampant during Prof. Shkurtaj tenure.

* [http://www.univlora.edu.al/rektor/baze Shezai Baze (1994-1997)] was the first Rector of the "Technological University of Vlora" during the period 1994-1997. He was appointed by then the minister of education.

tudent Organizations

* [http://www.univlora.edu.al/amsa Albanian Mathematical Student Association]
* [http://www.univlora.edu.al/laberia Grupi Laberia]
* [http://www.univlora.edu.al/hiking University of Vlora Hiking Group]

References

External links

* [http://www.univlora.edu.al/ University of Vlora official website]