During my CEEPUS mobility in Tirana, my most positive academic experience was the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues from the host institution and to gain a deeper insight into their academic culture. What I appreciated most was their openness in sharing experiences related to teaching and research. We exchanged ideas about curriculum design, ways of connecting theory with practice, and the broader challenges that higher education in our region currently faces.
One of the most significant outcomes of these discussions was our shared reflection on the decreasing number of students and the need to make study programs more attractive. Together we explored possible strategies for strengthening cooperation, including developing joint study programs, creating opportunities for teacher and student exchanges, and thinking about new formats that would appeal to future generations.
This cooperation also gave me a valuable comparative perspective, helping me reflect on how we organize our work at home and encouraging me to consider potential improvements. At the same time, I recognized many similarities that underline how connected our academic communities already are. This sense of belonging to a wider regional network was motivating and showed me the true strength of EURO Geo-Sci.
Thanks to my colleagues, I also had the unexpected opportunity to explore Albanian geology in the field, which added a unique professional and personal dimension to my stay.
Overall, the teaching activity in Tirana was not only a chance to contribute but also to grow professionally. The perspectives I gained and the concrete opportunities for collaboration that we discussed remain the most positive academic outcome of my CEEPUS mobility.
Prof. Dr. Marta Mileusnić