Through Diaspora4Innovation, GERMIN and EU4Innovation are highlighting the stories of diaspora and resident scholars who are strengthening higher education in Albania through academic exchange, co-teaching, research, and long-term institutional cooperation. This story focuses on the collaboration between Dr. Fatbardh Veseli, a diaspora scholar based in Germany, and Prof. Asoc. Dr. Edlira Martiri at the University of Tirana.
For Dr. Veseli, returning to Albania in an academic role was both personal and professional. Although he had delivered lectures across Europe, teaching at the University of Tirana brought a different sense of responsibility. It was his first time at the university, and the direct exchange with students gave the experience a special meaning.
The collaboration began with the Master’s-level Cybersecurity course. Together with the host professor, Dr. Veseli helped refine the syllabus, prepared an onsite lecture, and adapted his content to match the students’ academic background and the course objectives. Rather than bringing a general lecture, he shaped the session around the local context and connected innovation theory with cybersecurity practice.
This approach gave students a learning experience that combined international academic knowledge with practical examples from their own field. Cybersecurity is often taught through technical and regulatory frameworks. By adding innovation theory, the lecture opened a new discussion for students and encouraged them to think about cybersecurity through a broader lens.
The students responded with strong engagement. During the lecture, they asked questions, followed the discussion closely, and later connected the topic with their own research interests. Anonymous student evaluations also showed that they valued the session and the interactive format.
The partnership did not end in the classroom. Dr. Veseli and Dr. Martiri have already worked together on a joint scientific paper in the cybersecurity field, alongside researchers from institutions in Germany and Albania. They are also exploring future cooperation, including joint research, short academic visits, and links between the University of Tirana and Dr. Veseli’s home university in Frankfurt.
For Dr. Martiri, the collaboration showed how diaspora engagement can bring real academic value when it moves beyond symbolic visits. She emphasized that the lecture worked because it was carefully prepared, locally relevant, and connected to the broader course. For her, this model can help Albanian universities build stronger ties with international academic environments through teaching, research, mentoring, and institutional cooperation.
This Meet the Scholar story shows the value of structured diaspora engagement in higher education. When diaspora scholars and local academics work together with clear purpose, they create new learning opportunities for students, strengthen research links, and build bridges between Albanian universities and global academic networks.
