The Academy of Albanological Studies "merges" into six units in the Academy of Sciences of Albania

The merger of the Academy of Albanian Studies within the Academy of Sciences of Albania will be done through six study units. According to the decision of the president of the Academy of Sciences, Skënder Gjinushi, within the institution he leads, the Institute of Archaeology, the Institute of History, the Center for the Study of Arts, the Institute of Anthropology and the Center for Encyclopedic and Albanological Publications will function.

Based on the decision, until December 15, the institutes will also have scientific employees. While it is not yet known what will be the path of how the scientific workers will take the new positions within the Academy, whether they will be transferred directly as former employees of ASA or through some competition, it remains that their relationship with the state regarding salaries will be determined through a decision of the Council of Ministers.

It was precisely a decision of the Council of Ministers in May of this year, the document that closed the ASA. At that time there were many reactions.

The Senate of this institution had issued a statement, saying that the Law on Higher Education and Scientific Research in Albania is violated, creating a dangerous precedent of the unjustified closure of a Public Institution of Higher Education and Scientific Research and, moreover, of the only Albanological Academy.

In another reaction, the Senate was completely against this decision of the Council of Ministers.

"It is a political decision that affects the science of Albanology in Albania; It was drafted without consultation and without transparency. The Academy of Albanological Studies will continue its mission of protecting academic freedom, using all the legal instruments of a democratic state," the second reaction read.

But the reactions did not remain only within Albania. When asked by the Albanian media, the academic from Kosovo, Rexhep Ismajli, also came out against such a decision.

also Culture June 5, 2023 The closing of the Academy of Albanological Studies - political interference in scientific institutions

"It is neither acceptable nor permissible to endanger scientific institutions. On the contrary, they should be developed and increased. The concrete circumstances of how they will be organized should be judged by the researchers who are directly involved in the Albanian work in Albania. It is not good to do anything without their understanding", said academician Ismajli, former president of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo, among others, an honorary member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences of America.

The reactions of researchers from Kosovo were numerous. The corresponding member of ASHAK, the linguist Bardh Rugova, together with his colleagues university professors of the language, Shkumbin Munishi and Rrahman Paçarizi, have reacted, saying that it is a question of political interference in science.

"Political intervention on academic activity is an attempt to control, 'discipline' and rule creative minds. We understand that the powers that be - everywhere - do not like the free thinker and, more willingly, would have a hand over them. From here we also have the derogatory terms in the academic world for the 'thinkers' of the powers that be: court scholar. Court researchers are typical of countries of dictatorships," their reaction read.