Përmes dialogut të drejtpërdrejtë, GERMIN po diskuton me sipërmarrësit mënyrat për të forcuar lidhjet me tregun vendor, për të shkëmbyer njohuri dhe për të krijuar partneritete të reja. Këto takime shërbejnë gjithashtu për të identifikuar pengesat që bizneset e diasporës hasin gjatë angazhimit të tyre në Kosovë dhe format e mbështetjes që mund ta lehtësojnë këtë proces.

Zgjidhni takimin tuaj dhe regjistrohuni

Takimet do të zhvillohen online, përmes Zoom, nga ora 18:30, me kohëzgjatje rreth 45 minuta.

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Gjatë tri moduleve, pjesëmarrësit trajtuan identifikimin e nevojave institucionale, motivimet dhe pengesat e angazhimit, ndërtimin e besimit dhe komunikimin e dyanshëm. Përmes diskutimeve, ushtrimeve praktike dhe shkëmbimit të përvojave, ata punuan mbi mënyrat e kontaktimit dhe përfshirjes së profesionistëve nga diaspora, si dhe hapat për ta mbajtur bashkëpunimin aktiv.

Trajnimi synoi gjithashtu t’i përgatisë pjesëmarrësit që t’ua përcjellin njohuritë kolegëve të tyre, duke mbështetur vazhdimësinë e angazhimit të diasporës brenda institucioneve.

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Partneriteti synon të zgjerojë rrjetet e bashkëpunimit dhe të mbështesë shkëmbimin e njohurive në fushat e inovacionit, sipërmarrjes dhe zhvillimit të qëndrueshëm. Përmes nismave të përbashkëta, të dyja organizatat synojnë të krijojnë më shumë mundësi për bashkëpunim mes profesionistëve nga diaspora dhe komunitetit të inovacionit në Kosovë.

Një fokus i veçantë do të jetë lidhja e DOKU.TECH me programin OriginAL të GERMIN, duke i afruar të rinjtë, sipërmarrësit dhe novatorët nga diaspora me rrjetet dhe mundësitë që ofron Kosova.

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Konferenca dy-ditore Diaspora4Innovation u përqendrua në një pyetje kryesore: Si mund t’i shndërrojë Shqipëria njohuritë, përvojën dhe rrjetet profesionale të diasporës në bashkëpunim institucional afatgjatë?

Përmes paneleve të diskutimit, sesioneve praktike, fjalimeve kryesore, laboratorit ndërveprues, sesionit artistik dhe tryezës së drejtuesve të universiteteve, pjesëmarrësit diskutuan angazhimin e diasporës, arsimin e lartë, sipërmarrjen, kërkimin shkencor, teknologjinë dhe inteligjencën artificiale.

Konferenca prezantoi gjithashtu rezultatet e nismës Diaspora4Innovation:

• 554 studentë të përfshirë
• 11 universitete partnere
• 11 akademikë nga diaspora dhe 15 akademikë nga Shqipëria
• 9 kurse të hartuara bashkërisht dhe 14 kurse të zhvilluara bashkërisht
• 14 bashkëpunime kërkimore
• 22 mentorë nga diaspora
• 71 biznese fillestare të mbështetura, prej të cilave 44 të themeluara nga gra

Pjesëmarrësit u pajtuan se institucionet duhet të përcaktojnë qartë përparësitë, të caktojnë persona përgjegjës dhe të krijojnë mekanizma praktikë për bashkëpunim të qëndrueshëm me profesionistët e diasporës. Ata gjithashtu theksuan nevojën për ta lidhur arsimin universitar me projekte konkrete, punëdhënës, mentorë dhe organizata të inovacionit.

Konferenca përfundoi me një tryezë të drejtuesve dhe përfaqësuesve të 11 universiteteve publike dhe private, të cilët diskutuan se si mund të vazhdojnë partneritetet e krijuara përmes projektit. Hapat e propozuar përfshijnë identifikimin e nevojave të universiteteve dhe ekspertizës së diasporës, caktimin e personave përgjegjës brenda universiteteve dhe zhvillimin e aktiviteteve të reja në mësimdhënie, kërkim shkencor dhe mentorim.

Në emër të Bashkimit Evropian, Gjermanisë dhe Suedisë, EU4Innovation mbështet GERMIN në zbatimin e Diaspora4Innovation.

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Access the key conference resources below. Explore the Diaspora4Innovation Book of Achievements to learn about the project’s results, partnerships, stories, and long-term impact, and view the Conference Agenda for the full two-day programme.

Read the Book of Achievements

View the Conference Agenda

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At the beginning of OriginAL Cohort 10, many participants knew one another only through names on a list or conversations in a group chat. Some had visited Kosovë or Albania many times. Others were discovering the places their families had spoken about for the first time.

OriginAL offered far more than a tour across cities. Each activity opened a new way to connect with Albanian history, culture and everyday life. Between museum visits, long bus rides, shared meals, difficult conversations, music and laughter, the participants also learned about one another.

The first connections in Prishtina

The journey began in Prishtina, where participants arrived, checked in and met the people with whom they would share the next two weeks.

Activities at RIT Kosovo helped them move beyond first introductions and begin building trust. The official opening brought together participants, alumni, institutional representatives, partners and supporters to welcome the tenth OriginAL cohort and mark another milestone for the program.

The group explored Prishtina through its streets, monuments and public spaces. From the NEWBORN and Heroinat monuments to Reporting House and the city centre, each stop revealed another part of Kosovë’s recent history and evolving identity.

At the “As Knej As Anej” exhibition, participants encountered stories that reflected the experience of living between places, cultures and definitions of home. For many young people raised in the diaspora, the theme felt deeply familiar.

Community activities added another dimension to their time in the capital. Through volunteering with TOKA, AMC/ Teshavesha and local partners, participants contributed their time and energy while meeting people who work every day to strengthen their communities.

Encountering history through people and places

OriginAL creates space for celebration, but it also asks participants to engage honestly with the past.

At the Jashari Family Memorial Complex in Prekaz, participants learned about and honoured the sacrifice of the Jashari family, whereas their visit to the Kosovë Security Force’s “Adem Jashari” Barracks helped them understand the historical connection behind its name and how that legacy continues to shape Kosovë today. 

Later, during the outdoor screening of Hive in Prizren, the group saw a powerful story of loss, sacrifice and resilience represented on screen.

Discovering Prizren, Gjakovë, Junik and Pejë

In Prizren, the pace shifted between cultural discovery and festival energy.

The participants started their morning with traditional burek at ITP Prizren, toured the innovation park and explored one of Kosovë’s most historic cities. They walked through the old centre, climbed to Prizren Fortress and experienced DokuFest, where streets, courtyards and public spaces became gathering points for cinema and conversation.

Gjakovë offered another encounter with local heritage. A walk through the city introduced the group to its architecture and traditions, including the famous Grand Bazaar and the historic Hadum Mosque.

In Junik, the visit to the local teqe introduced participants to another part of Kosovë’s spiritual and cultural history. 

A hike to Liqenat with Outdoor Kosovë gave everyone time away from the city. The climb demanded patience and mutual encouragement, but it rewarded the group with mountain views, fresh air and an experience that many would later remember as one of the program’s defining moments.

By this point, the participants no longer moved as individuals from different parts of the world. They waited for one another, shared water, exchanged jokes and celebrated every person who reached the top.

From the mountains to Shkodër

The road from Kosovë to Shkodër took the group through Fierza and across Lake Koman, where steep mountains and calm water created one of the most memorable travel days of the program.

Shkodër welcomed the cohort with its own mix of history, art and everyday city life. At Rozafa Castle, participants encountered the legends and historical layers connected to one of Albania’s best-known sites. The Marubi National Museum of Photography offered another way to understand the country, through photographs that preserved people, clothing, events and social life across generations.

A cultural tour, time by Lake Shkodër and a group bicycle ride allowed the participants to experience the city beyond its monuments. These quieter moments also gave friendships room to grow.

The strongest connections often formed between scheduled activities: during long conversations at breakfast, while walking back to the hotel or while sharing stories on the bus.

Experiencing Albania’s southern coast

The journey then continued south to Vlorë.

A boat trip to Sazan and Karaburun brought the group together for a full day at sea, while the beach offered time to rest after an intense program. The participants also visited the Monastery of Zvërnec and explored Vlorë, a city closely linked to Albania’s independence and national history.

These days balanced reflection with joy. Participants swam, danced, took photographs and enjoyed the freedom of being together without having to explain every part of their identity.

For diaspora youth, that feeling can be rare. Many grow up moving between cultures, languages and expectations. Within OriginAL, those differences did not require justification. They became the starting point for friendship.

Krujë, Tirana and the final days

On the way to Tirana, the cohort stopped in Krujë to visit the museum dedicated to Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu. The visit connected national history with questions about how historical figures, symbols and stories continue to shape Albanian identity today.

In Tirana, participants explored the city through sites that represented different periods of Albania’s past and present. Visits included cultural and historical institutions, the Pyramid of Tirana and the Ivanaj Foundation, giving the group further insight into the country’s history, civic life and continuing development.

As the program approached its conclusion, Albanian Night brought everyone together in traditional clothing from different Albanian regions. It became an evening of music, dancing, photographs and celebration. Each outfit carried a connection to a place, while the group created a celebration that belonged to everyone.

The closing ceremony and feedback session offered time to look back at everything the cohort had experienced. Participants reflected on the places they had visited, the histories they had encountered and the relationships they had formed.

More than a trip home

OriginAL does not offer one fixed definition of what it means to be Albanian.

Instead, it gives young people the space to ask questions, discover new parts of their heritage and build their own connection to it. A participant who speaks Albanian fluently and one who knows only a few words can still share the same desire to understand where their family comes from. Someone who visits every summer and someone arriving for the first time can both discover something new.

Cohort 10 showed that connection does not happen through one monument, one meal or one conversation. It grows through many small moments: learning someone’s family story, helping a friend during a hike, hearing a name pronounced at a memorial, dancing together at Albanian Night or realizing that another person understands an experience you have struggled to explain.

The 42 participants arrived with different relationships to Kosovë, Albania and their Albanian identity. During two weeks, they created a shared understanding.

They returned home with new friendships, stronger connections to their roots and memories that will continue long after the journey ended.

They also became part of a growing OriginAL community, one that now includes more than 320 young people brought together since 2022 by a common wish: to know where they come from, to understand one another and to remain connected.

The post Two weeks, Countless Stories: Inside OriginAL Cohort 10 appeared first on Germin.

The ceremony opened with remarks by Sihana Bejtullahu, Co-Executive Director of GERMIN, while Gjovani Cinari, an OriginAL alumnus, shared his personal experience and reflected on the impact the program has had on his journey.

Participants were also welcomed by Albina Balidemaj-Basha, President of RIT Kosovo, through a video message.

In his remarks, Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo Albin Kurti emphasized that the OriginAL program gives young people from the diaspora an opportunity to learn more about Albanian history, culture, and identity beyond state borders. He stressed that the connection with one’s place of origin is not inherited automatically, but must be discovered, experienced, and built over time.

Also present at the opening ceremony was Silke Bellmann, Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kosovo.

Representing the diaspora, Avni Mustafaj, Co-Chair of the GERMIN Board, shared a message with the participants of Cohort 10, while Elvin Guri, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and donor of the OriginAL program, welcomed the young participants with remarks of his own.

Lirim Krasniqi, Co-Executive Director of GERMIN, presented the journey of OriginAL to date and the program’s vision for the future.

The evening concluded with an artistic performance by Egzon Sadiku, Project Manager at GERMIN, followed by a cocktail reception for participants and guests. The ceremony was moderated by Arieta Dragusha, Communications Manager at GERMIN.

With the official opening of Cohort 10, participants now begin their journey across Kosovo and Albania through activities that will bring them closer to the history, culture, people, and places connected to their heritage.

Photo Credit: Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo.

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Implemented by GERMIN and powered by EU4Innovation, the project brought together diaspora professionals and scholars, higher education institutions, resident academics, start-ups, and ecosystem organisations. Its work was organised through three connected pillars: Diaspora4Education, Diaspora4Entrepreneurship, and Diaspora4Promotion.

Through these pillars, the project moved beyond networking. It supported academic partnerships, course co-design, co-teaching, mentoring, scientific research, and applications for international funding.

Diaspora4Innovation in Numbers

During its implementation, the project:

• reached 554 student beneficiaries;
• engaged 11 universitete partnere;
• involved 11 diaspora scholars and 15 resident scholars;
• supported the co-design of 9 courses and the co-teaching of 14 courses;
• created 14 active research collaborations;
• engaged 22 mentorë nga diaspora;
• supported 71 Albanian start-ups, including 44 women-founded start-ups;
• reached 420,043 users through its digital communication activities.

Student feedback also points to clear results. According to the publication, 96.4 percent of surveyed students reported that they were satisfied or very satisfied with their course, while 95.5 percent said the courses introduced innovative concepts.

A Model That Extends Beyond Individual Lectures

The Diaspora4Innovation model began with university partnerships and the connection of diaspora scholars with resident academics in Albania. These relationships developed through syllabus co-design, co-teaching, practical learning activities, and joint research.

The process followed a clear path:

University partnerships → academic collaboration → syllabus co-design → co-teaching → joint research → lasting institutional impact.

Rather than limiting diaspora engagement to one-time lectures or visits, the project aimed to build relationships that could continue through publications, international projects, academic exchanges, and cooperation between institutions.

Academic Collaborations in Practice

Applied Economics and Data Analysis

Dr. Adelajda Matuka from the University of Bologna worked with Dr. Edmira Cakrani and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Filloreta Madani to co-design and deliver the course “Applied Economics with R Studio.”

Students worked with real datasets, programming, modelling, and data visualisation while connecting their findings to economic and public policy questions. The collaboration also continued through joint research and an international conference presentation.

Planning Education and Practice-Based Learning

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dorina Pojani from the University of Queensland and Dr. Irina Branko from the Polytechnic University of Tirana worked together to update a landscape planning course.

The course combined guest lectures from professionals across several sectors with workplace visits. Students gave the course an average rating of 4.75 out of 5 and highlighted the value of practical exposure, interdisciplinary learning, and insights into professional opportunities.

Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Idea Validation

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elona Marku from the University of Cagliari and Asst. Prof. Dr. Vehap Kola from the University of New York Tirana connected entrepreneurship education with student mentoring, academic research, and European cooperation.

Students worked with business models, digital transformation, lean start-up principles, and the Proof of Concept Canvas. The collaboration also resulted in a research presentation at the European Group for Organizational Studies Colloquium and a COST Action proposal.

Digital Entrepreneurship and Artificial Intelligence

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Endrit Kromidha from the University of Birmingham collaborated with Dr. Blendi Shima and Dr. Gentjan Ulaj to update entrepreneurship and small business management courses.

The revised content covered digital entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence for small and medium-sized enterprises, prototyping, investor pitching, and business model innovation. The collaboration also contributed to a joint research paper prepared for the British Academy of Management Conference 2026.

Environmental Economics and European Policy

Asst. Prof. Dr. Ernil Sabaj from the University of Warwick and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ledjon Shahini from the University of Tirana co-designed and co-taught the Environmental Economics course.

Students studied carbon pricing, emissions trading systems, and circular economy models, using data from European and international institutions. The collaboration also included a study visit to the University of Warwick and work toward a Jean Monnet application.

Cybersecurity and Joint Research

Dr. Fatbardh Veseli and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Edlira Martiri from the University of Tirana worked on improving a master’s-level cybersecurity course.

They refined the syllabus, connected innovation theory with cybersecurity practice, and developed joint research in privacy and data security. Their scientific paper was submitted to the Annual Privacy Forum 2026.

Architecture, Design, and Urban Solutions

Dr. Klodian Gradeci from SINTEF and Oslo Metropolitan University collaborated with Dr. Ledian Bregasi from POLIS University on the “New European Bauhaus Innovation Studio” course.

Students used user research, design sprints, teamwork, and project pitching to develop solutions to real challenges. Two participants later won first prize at the CliMobility City Lab Demo Day and secured a €50,000 award for their project, “Urban Oasis.”

From Diaspora Collaboration to Horizon Europe

One of the project’s strongest outcomes came from the collaboration between Dr. Kristian Sevdari and Dr. Astrit Bardhi from the Polytechnic University of Tirana.

Their cooperation contributed to the successful Horizon Europe application for SOLAR-MOVE – Solar Photovoltaic to MOVE for Systems Integration. The project has a total value of €8.25 million, including nearly €7 million in European Union funding.

Through SOLAR-MOVE, the Polytechnic University of Tirana joined a European research consortium focused on photovoltaic solutions, electric mobility, and energy systems integration.

Computational Physics, Artificial Intelligence, and MLOps

Dr. Lisana Berberi from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology worked with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Entelë Gavoçi and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nihat Adar at the Canadian Institute of Technology.

Python-based simulations were introduced into Physics I, while the artificial intelligence and machine learning courses incorporated MLOps, reproducible workflows, GitHub collaboration, and production-ready practices.

The partnership also produced a joint paper on machine learning models for taxi trip duration prediction, later published by Springer Nature.

Open Innovation in Finance Education

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Valentina Ndou from the University of Salento and Prof. Dr. Blerta Dragusha from the University of Shkodra “Luigj Gurakuqi” updated the Corporate Finance course.

Students worked with business modelling, design thinking, artificial intelligence, and open innovation challenges. In cooperation with banks and industry professionals, they developed solutions related to financial inclusion, digital services, and operational efficiency. The partnership also contributed to an Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education proposal.

Biomedical Sciences and Laboratory Research

Dr. Gladiola Goranci-Buzhala from CECAD at the University of Cologne collaborated with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Albana Halili from Western Balkans University.

They updated the Tissue Engineering course and organised practical workshops on scientific writing, data analysis, and microscopy image processing using Fiji/ImageJ.

The partnership created further opportunities, including an academic visit to the University of Cologne and laboratory work for a Western Balkans University student completing a master’s thesis.

Support for Entrepreneurs and Start-Ups

Through Diaspora4Entrepreneurship, diaspora mentors contributed to labs, pre-accelerators, university workshops, and business development activities.

The project engaged 22 mentors, worked through 6 labs and pre-accelerators, and supported 71 Albanian start-ups, including 44 women-founded businesses.

Mentors supported participants in business model development, communication, technology, urban sustainability, mobility, women-led entrepreneurship, and access to European funding opportunities.

Connecting People, Institutions, and Opportunities

Diaspora4Innovation showed that diaspora engagement creates stronger results when institutions build it around clear structures, shared objectives, and sustained cooperation.

The project’s results go beyond the number of lectures or events delivered. They can be seen in updated courses, new teaching methods, joint research, scientific publications, European funding applications, supported businesses, and institutional relationships that can continue after the project closes.

The Diaspora4Innovation publication presents this work as a journey of collaboration and impact, as well as an invitation to carry the connections forward.

From knowledge held across different countries to results created together in Albania, Diaspora4Innovation demonstrated how diaspora engagement can contribute to the country’s academic, economic, and institutional development.

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Në takim morën pjesë Presidentja e RIT Kosovo, Dr. Albina Balidemaj, përfaqësues të bordit dhe Zyrës së Zhvillimit të universitetit, bashkëdrejtorët ekzekutivë të GERMIN, Lirim Krasniqi dhe Sihana Bejtullahu, si dhe Prof. Egzon Sadiku. Diskutimet u përqendruan në zgjerimin e bashkëpunimit dhe identifikimin e nismave të përbashkëta në dobi të të rinjve.

Përmes këtij partneriteti, GERMIN dhe RIT Kosovo synojnë të nxisin shkëmbimin e njohurive, inovacionin dhe lidhjet mes të rinjve në Kosovë dhe diasporë.

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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.

The post Meet the Scholar: Connecting Innovation and Cybersecurity Through Diaspora Academic Exchange appeared first on Germin.