OriginAL’s mission is to bring the Albanian youth on a free two-week trip to their homeland countries every year that will: 

• Deepen Albanian identity understanding and belonging
• Foster lifelong friendships and cross-border networks
• Inspire leadership and future engagement with the homeland

For 2026, applicants can select their preferred participation period, making it easier to join the program at a time that fits their schedule.

Who Can Apply

Applicants must:

• Be of Albanian heritage
• Be between 18 and 24 years old
• Express interest in culture, history, community, and learning

How to Apply

To learn more about the program and submit your application, click the link below.

APPLY HERE!

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Expanding across Kosova, Albania, and North Macedonia, participants explored 14 cities and over 70 sites, combining cultural heritage with civic learning. With strong satisfaction (88/100), increased alumni engagement, and hundreds of volunteer hours contributed, OriginAL continues to grow in both scale and impact—while preparing to expand access and strengthen its global community in 2026.

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Through Diaspora4Innovation, GERMIN and EU4Innovation create space for meaningful academic exchange between diaspora scholars and resident faculty in Albania. The Meet the Scholar Series documents these collaborations and shows how shared teaching experiences translate into stronger universities, more relevant curricula, and empowered students.

One such collaboration brought together Dr Adelajda Matuka, diaspora scholar from the University of Bologna, and Dr Edmira Cakrani, from the European University of Tirana in Albania. Together, they co-designed and co-taught the course Applied Economics with R Studio at the European University of Tirana, introducing students to modern, applied approaches in economics education.

From the early planning stages, the collaboration focused on aligning international academic practices with the realities of Albanian higher education. The scholars worked closely to structure the syllabus, define learning outcomes, and design assessments that encouraged active participation and problem solving.

The course integrated applied quantitative analysis, programming, and economic reasoning through the use of R Studio. Students analyzed, modeled, and visualized real world datasets, linking empirical results to economic and policy questions relevant to Albania and beyond. Rather than relying on abstract theory, the course emphasized learning by doing.

Classroom delivery centered on live coding sessions, guided exercises, and step by step examples. Students worked directly with data and learned how to interpret findings in a policy context. This approach helped them build confidence in computational thinking and understand how applied economics supports evidence based decision making.

Student response played a key role in shaping the experience. Curiosity, collaboration, and a willingness to experiment defined the classroom dynamic. Many students expressed pride in completing their first data analysis projects, seeing their skills grow in real time.

What made this collaboration stand out for the diaspora scholar was the opportunity to engage in an academic environment that felt both evolving and familiar, as someone who had once studied in the Albanian education system. The partnership with the European University of Tirana and with Prof. Edmira Cakrani created a meaningful bridge between past academic roots and current international experience. Beyond teaching, the collaboration also extended into research. The joint research article developed through this partnership is now near completion, with the aim of submitting it to a top ranking academic journal. The scholars also presented their work at the READ International Scientific Conference 2025, where around 300 research papers from researchers worldwide were shared. This experience strengthened not only academic cooperation but also personal commitment to contributing to higher education in Albania.

For the resident scholar, the collaboration introduced new pedagogical approaches, digital tools, and applied teaching methods. Exposure to international academic practices inspired curriculum innovation beyond this single course and encouraged broader integration of technology driven learning.

Both scholars see strong potential in continuing this model of collaboration. Future plans include co teaching, joint research, curriculum development workshops, and stronger links between Albanian universities and international academic networks. These partnerships help bridge gaps between diaspora and resident scholars while preparing students for competitive job markets in Albania and abroad.

The Meet the Scholar Series captures what Diaspora4Innovation makes possible when engagement moves beyond short visits and into sustained academic partnership. It shows how shared responsibility, adaptability, and mutual learning can strengthen higher education and build lasting connections between global knowledge and local institutions.

On behalf of the European Union, Germany, and Sweden, EU4INNOVATION is supporting GERMIN to facilitate the circulation of Albania’s global knowledge locally.

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Diaspora4Innovation showed how sustained collaboration between diaspora scholars and resident academics can strengthen higher education in Albania through shared responsibility and long term impact.

Through the Diaspora4Education component, the programme supported a close academic partnership between Dr. Ernil Sabaj, Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Warwick, and Dr. Ledjon Shahini, Professor of Economic Sciences at the Faculty of Economics, University of Tirana. Together, they co designed and co taught the Environmental Economics course for third year undergraduate students, creating a joint teaching model based on equality, exchange, and practical learning.

The collaboration began with a thorough review of the existing curriculum and its alignment with international academic standards. Dr. Sabaj and Dr. Shahini updated the course content to include contemporary themes such as carbon pricing, emissions trading systems, circular economy models, and green and blue economy approaches. EU environmental policy frameworks, including the EU Emissions Trading System and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, became core reference points, directly linking the course to Albania’s European integration agenda.

Teaching methods shifted toward applied and interactive learning. Students worked with real data from EU institutions, the World Bank, IMF, and EUROSTAT, and engaged with policy documents used in real decision making processes. Case studies focused on Albania’s environmental and economic realities, including air pollution, waste management, hydropower reliance, and institutional capacity challenges. This approach strengthened analytical thinking, policy evaluation skills, and confidence in applied economics.

Student engagement increased significantly. Discussions often extended beyond class time, with students actively debating how global policy tools could function within Albania’s specific context. The co teaching model helped students connect international knowledge with local challenges and see themselves as future contributors to policy, research, and sustainable development.

For the resident scholar, the collaboration also enabled professional exchange and exposure to international academic practices. A reciprocal visit to the University of Warwick allowed Dr. Shahini observe course design, assessment methods, student engagement approaches, and research culture, insights that are now informing his teaching practices at the University of Tirana.

The partnership extended beyond a single course. Dr. Sabaj and Dr. Shahini are laying the groundwork for continued co-teaching, joint research in environmental and development economics, and preparation of a Jean Monnet Action module under Erasmus Plus. This initiative aims to institutionalise cooperation between the two universities, expand faculty involvement, and further modernise economics curricula in Albania.

This experience confirms that diaspora engagement creates meaningful impact when it is structured, reciprocal, and embedded in institutions. Diaspora4Innovation demonstrated how knowledge exchange can strengthen universities, empower students, and contribute to Albania’s path toward a more sustainable and informed future.

On behalf of the European Union, Germany, and Sweden, @eu_4_innovation is supporting Germin to facilitate the circulation of Albania’s global knowledge, locally!

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If you are young and motivated, we invite you to apply through Kosovogenu.com for the following positions:

1. Graphic Design Intern
   Application link: https://www.kosovogenu.com/jobs/695fc0042ab3ca03b5a1327a?page=1
2. Video Editing Intern
   Application link: https://www.kosovogenu.com/jobs/695fc17b2ab3ca03b5a134b2?page=1
3. Finance Intern
   Application link: https://www.kosovogenu.com/jobs/6960fadd2ab3ca03b5a1ab39?page=3

To be eligible for evaluation, applicants must be between 16 and 24 years old, log in if they already have an account on the platform, and apply by submitting the required documents listed in each job post.

If you are not registered on the platform, visit the homepage and click the Register button, choose the Intern option, and complete all required registration details. Make sure to agree to the Terms and Conditions, otherwise you will not be able to complete the registration process.

The application deadline is January 26, 2026.

All applications must be submitted through the platform:
https://kosovogenu.com

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The event was opened by Arieta Dragusha, Communication Officer at GERMIN, who highlighted the role of women in politics, with a special focus on the local level, where representatives are closer to citizens and their daily needs. She emphasized that women’s participation in local decision-making translates into more responsive policies and practical solutions for communities.

Era Ahmeti, Project Coordinator at GERMIN, presented the main achievements of the project, which aimed to promote greater political participation and representation of women in Kosovo. The project was implemented in seven municipalities and involved a total of 54 women, either serving as municipal assembly members or having been candidates for local assemblies. Seven mentors from the diaspora and seven experts participated throughout the project. The initiative included three training sessions and seven community initiatives addressing concrete local needs.

During the conference, the implemented initiatives were presented by Hyrije Uka Hoxha from Vushtrri, Sanie Kuqi Rexhepaj from Suhareka, and Besiana Syla from Lipjan, providing practical examples of women’s impact in politics and local community initiatives.

The discussion rounds highlighted key challenges, including insufficient cooperation among women from different political parties, while Suhareka was recognized as a positive example of cross-party collaboration. Participants also addressed the lack of public debate about the fact that 38 municipalities in Kosovë are led by men, online harassment of women in politics (mostly perpetrated by men), low media representation, and the burden of unpaid work that continues to fall primarily on women.

Concrete recommendations emerged from the discussions, including the continuation of professional training for women, especially in public procurement, strengthening cooperation with organizations like GERMIN, which were deemed highly necessary and productive, and initiating actions at the central level. Participants proposed more systematic work to enhance the role of female assembly members, changes in voting procedures in municipal assemblies, allowing citizens to vote up to three candidates instead of one, and the need for monitoring and transparency regarding the Democratization Fund.

The conference was held on International Migrants Day, reaffirming the diaspora’s role as an important partner in supporting women in politics and strengthening local democracy.

The event concluded with the clear message that women do not seek privileges in decision-making; they seek the positions they deserve because democracy only has meaning when decisions are made by all. This conference marked the conclusion of the “Women in Politics” project, funded by the National Endowment for Democracy and implemented by GERMIN in seven municipalities across Kosova.

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Building on its strong regional legacy, Diaspora Flet now rises to the international stage, connecting diaspora organizations, institutions, and development partners from both home and host countries. The conference serves as a space for collaboration, dialogue, and knowledge exchange, strengthening the diaspora’s role in economic, social, and cultural development.

Supported by GIZ – MEG Program, the 2025 edition focuses on how diaspora networks drive integration, innovation, and sustainable development across borders. It highlights the Albanian diaspora, together with other participating communities, as a bridge of cooperation between societies, cultures, and economies.

Over three days, participants will engage in keynote speeches, thematic panels, international exchanges, cultural performances, and networking events, culminating in a strategic session dedicated to Albanian diaspora organizations.

The post GERMIN Brings the Fourth “Diaspora Flet” Conference to Cologne, Germany appeared first on Germin.

The exchange of experiences and the acquisition of new knowledge from some of the most advanced models in Europe and beyond is one of the core objectives of the project “Diaspora4Innovation.”

The goal of knowledge exchange was at the heart of the study visit to Venice, carried out by a group of 12 academics from both Albania and the diaspora, along with representatives from GERMIN, EU4Innovation, and the media. The visit included the innovation hub H-FARM, a platform and campus built around developing innovative enterprises and innovation ecosystems, aiming to create impactful change and empower new generations to lead with purpose, all supported by artificial intelligence (AI). The group also visited Future Farming, a technology transfer center developed in partnership between Zero and H-FARM.

The first day of the study visit took place at QTT Future Farming, one of Europe’s most advanced technological infrastructures, developed through strong public-private partnerships between businesses and research institutions. The company Zero, which holds a 49% share in Future Farming, is a leading European player in vertical agriculture, offering modular, AI-driven solutions for agriculture, food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and eco-rehabilitation.

The academics learned about the methods and models applied at Future Farming, focusing on the use of technology in agriculture through the “Nature Co-design” paradigm, which studies how life forms in nature to replicate it in ways that produce new solutions for business and social needs through scientific research, laboratories, and technology.

The next visit took place at H-FARM, a space where education, entrepreneurship, and technology come together. The academics toured the modern campus, a space designed to foster creativity, new ideas, and student well-being. They visited the startup center, explored its programs for startup development, and learned about H-FARM College’s educational approach, which emphasizes its international learning offer.

The academics who took part in the visit highlighted how valuable this experience will be for implementing similar practices in Albanian universities in the near future. They also emphasized the importance of such study visits for expanding cooperation between academics based in Albania and those from the diaspora who have achieved great success at leading universities across Europe and the world.

Assoc. Prof. Valentina Ndou, who conceptualized and facilitated the visit, stated:
“Some of the initiatives we saw in Venice are already known to our academics. Many of them have already started applying these concepts in their university courses. However, in Albania, it is still difficult to fully implement such initiatives because the infrastructure is lacking, and broader collaboration is needed, both at the university and inter-ministerial levels, as well as with the business sector.”

Valbona Koçi, Advisor at EU4Innovation, described the study visit as an opportunity to bring diaspora academics closer to those working in Albania.
“Our goal is for diaspora academics to bring their knowledge back to Albania, not necessarily by returning physically. Knowledge is mobile, and in this way, it becomes even more valuable for our country, where the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem is rapidly growing,” she emphasized.

Lirim Krasniqi, Co-Director of GERMIN, the organization implementing the Diaspora4Innovation project in partnership with GIZ, described diaspora academics as a valuable national asset.
“Thanks to them, Albania is getting closer to the innovative developments taking place across Europe and beyond, helping to strengthen capacities and raise our standards. So far, we have had the engagement of 10 diaspora academics in 8 Albanian universities, across 12 faculties and departments. For over a year, they have been involved in numerous activities, including designing syllabuses, lecturing, joint research projects, and study visits such as this one to Future Farming and H-FARM, which link innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems with education. We are proud to see this project producing remarkable results,” he concluded.

The Diaspora4Innovation project, supported by EU4Innovation and funded by the European Union, the German Government, and the Swedish Government, demonstrates how institutions can play a key role in connecting academia in Albania, the diaspora, and policymaking. It ensures that Albanian universities are not isolated but integrated into Europe’s innovation trends.

All the initiatives carried out under this project show that learning knows no boundaries. Knowledge may grow abroad, but innovation always finds its way home, positioning Albania as an important contributor to the regional and European innovation ecosystem.

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For decades, Albanians living abroad have helped the economies of Kosova, Albania, and the region through remittances. But the diaspora story does not end there. Beyond financial support, the knowledge, professional experience, and international networks of our diaspora are invaluable assets that they put in service of their homelands’ development. When this asset returns to the country of origin, it generates long-term impact, strengthening local capacities and driving political, economic, and social development.

What is the Engaging of Diaspora Professionals Program and how does it work?
The Engaging Diaspora Professionals program, run by GERMIN, brings experts from the diaspora for short-term engagements, from 3 weeks to 6 months, with institutions, civil society organizations, businesses, and universities in Kosova and Albania. The goal is for professionals to exchange and share knowledge, skills, information, and experiences with institutions, organizations, and companies in their homelands, filling the gaps that often exist within them.

Over more than 10 years of activity:

• GERMIN has built a database of tens of thousands of Albanian professional profiles worldwide.
• Over 1,000 professionals from 17 countries have registered on the program’s online platform.
• More than 150 professionals have been engaged in the past 5 years, most traveling to Kosova and Albania at various times, while others have contributed remotely.
• The total engagement so far includes 314 work weeks and 445 hours of online mentoring.

Through the digital platform diasporaprofessionals.germin.org, every diaspora professional can:

• Register and identify projects that match their expertise.
• Connect with institutions, CSOs, and companies that need professional assistance.
• Exchange experiences with other diaspora professionals and build bridges of cooperation with their country of origin.

From Idea to Impact: Success Stories from the EDP Program
The EDP program is not just a list of statistics. It is a collection of human stories showing the tangible impact of knowledge returning home.

1. From Germany to Podujeva – Neritan Hoxha, a Full Stack developer in Germany, contributed to his hometown by creating an application for the Municipality of Podujeva. This tool provides detailed data on the municipality’s schools and villages, helping teachers and education staff plan resources and address students’ needs.
2. From London to Tirana – Arta Statovci, an Artificial Intelligence and Strategy expert, mentored the startup Commercey / Bot Medics Care, guiding it from a traditional model to an AI-driven business. Through strategic advice and practical use of digital tools, she helped the company increase investment, expand into new markets, and position itself on the global health sector stage.
3. From Switzerland to Kamenica – Orhan Sylejmani, a mechanical engineer, analyzed the state of urban and public transport in Kamenica and provided concrete recommendations for improvement, helping the city offer more efficient services for citizens.
4. From Austria to Prishtina – Fevzi Kafexhiu, a materials scientist, worked with Termokos, analyzing data from existing projects and providing recommendations for greater efficiency and sustainability in energy management.
5. From Greece to Prishtina – Dea Lulaj, a medical sciences professional with experience in Sweden, collaborated with the National Association of Autism in Kosove (ANAK). She brought practices from the Swedish system, offering recommendations for medical services, diagnostic tools, education, and family support for children with autism.
6. From Germany to Prishtina – Besa Maraj, a climate and energy consultant, worked with the Municipality of Prishtina in drafting the energy efficiency regulation. With her expertise, she helped develop measures for energy savings, environmental protection, and more sustainable city policies.
7. From Switzerland to Prishtina – Adhurim Haxhimusa, an energy expert and professor at the University of Switzerland, collaborated with BONEVET Prishtina to develop a training program on renewable energy. He delivered an inspiring speech to youth, emphasizing the importance of energy transition and collective responsibility for environmental protection.

These stories show that the diaspora does not only contribute financially but also brings ideas that turn into concrete projects, mentorships that empower local professionals, and connections that last.

Why does this matter on Diaspora Day?
On this special day, we remember that the diaspora is not far away. It is present in every project, every application developed for a municipality, and every economic strategy shaped with expertise brought from abroad.

GERMIN’s EDP program is a model of how we can channel this potential, turning the diaspora’s love and commitment into tangible development for the country. Beyond remittances, the diaspora’s knowledge, experience, and professional networks are the wealth that is building new bridges for the future of Kosova and Albania.

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