Research Expertise from the Academic Diaspora (READ)

For Albanian Resident Scholars

Eligibility

The online application for Resident Scholars is now being updated. The online application for projects in Year 5 of READ is now open. The deadline to apply is January 30, 2026.

Apply now as a resident scholar

Albanian Resident Scholars are academics based at an eligible university in Albania: The Albanian Resident Scholar(s) will collaborate with Diaspora Scholar on the project request. If selected, the Albanian Resident Scholar(s) will be the primary point of contact for the Diaspora Scholar during the fellowship period. Additionally, Albanian Resident Scholars must possess all the following qualifications in order to be eligible for the READ Program:

  • Albanian lecturer/scholar currently working at an eligible higher education institution (HEI) in Albania.
  • PhD or equivalent degree.
  • More than 5 years of working experience at a university or research center in Albania.
  • Good knowledge of English appropriate to the research project to be carried out in Albania.
  • Knowledge of the field of expertise and willingness to share and commit with the Diaspora Scholar

In READ Year 5, faculty at the following institutions are eligible to submit a READ project:

  • Albanian University
  • Aldent University
  • Aleksander Moisiu University, Durrës
  • Aleksandër Xhuvani University, Elbasan
  • Canadian Institute of Technology
  • Epoka University
  • Eqrem Çabej University, Gjirokastër
  • European University of Tirana
  • Fan S. Noli University, Korça
  • Ismail Qemali University of Vlorë
  • Luigj Gurakuqi University, Shkodër
  • Marin Barleti University
  • Metropolitan University
  • POLIS University
  • Polytechnic University of Tirana
  • Sports University of Tirana
  • Tirana Business University
  • University College Bedër
  • Universiteti Mesdhetar
  • University of Agriculture of Tirana
  • University of Medicine
  • University of New York Tirana
  • University of the Arts
  • University of Tirana
  • Western Balkans University

Activities

READ provides support for Albanian Resident Scholars to request the visit of an Albanian Diaspora Project to pursue capacity-building collaborative research projects at eligible Albanian HEIs. READ supports this collaboration through four main activities: 

  • Collaborative research
  • Curricula and course development, and/or
  • Co-teaching.

READ encourages projects that combine co-teaching with other supported activities.

In many cases, READ anticipates that Albanian Scholars are in contact with colleagues from the Albanian Diaspora in an OECD country and will collaborate on the project details submitted by the Albanian Resident Scholar.  READ encourages this kind of cooperation, although it does not increase the likelihood of selection in comparison to projects without such prior cooperation.

Benefits

Albanian Resident Scholars who are awarded fellowships will also receive a Research Grant (provided by AKKSHI) in the amount of 500,000 ALL.  In their applications, Albanian Resident Scholars will be invited to propose budgets in any or all of the following categories:

  • Payments to Resident Scholar(s): Gross salary per working day of the Albanian Resident Scholar and other Resident Scholars as part of the team. The daily salary should refer to the employment contract that the lecturer (each of the lecturers involved in the project) has with the employer (HEI).   
  • Publications and Printed Materials: Publication costs are the costs of publication in international journals with a high impact factor, including “Reviews”, the publication fee and any other costs applied by the publisher for the publication of the scientific article. AKKSHI recognizes only the invoice issued by the “Publisher” – the entity/journal that has published the article/articles with the author or group of authors involved in the project.
  • Kits and Reagents: The list of kits and reagents must be provided in the project. The list must be detailed with units and prices. Costs for laboratory analyses that are performed for a fee in a lab outside the HEI or in a lab of a university abroad..
  • Conferences, Summer Schools and Seminars: Activities of the nature of conferences, seminars, trainings, workshops foreseen as project activities.  
  • Other:  Applicants can suggest other costs for READ to consider.

Albanian Resident Scholars based at public universities can submit budgets of up to 2,500,000 ALL (provided by AKKSHI) and may include Infrastructure expenses. The Infrastructure Budget covers equipment that will be used beyond the timeline of the READ project.  Equipment purchased under this project will be owned by the higher education institution and used by the researcher(s) engaged in the project.

The procurement process for the purchase of infrastructure equipment will be carried out by the institution according to standard public procurement procedures.

Infrastructure costs may include (but are not limited) to:

  • Devices: Computers, microscopes, and other hardware.
  • Software
  • Books and eBooks
  • Other:  Applicants can suggest other costs for READ to consider.

More information

Follow READ on Facebook or LinkedIn to stay informed of program updates, webinars on how to apply and other information that will assist your application. 

Email READ@iie.org with any questions.

Download Application Guidelines for Albanian Resident Scholars