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Posted on June 30, 2025
From 23 to 25 June 2025, the partners of the EU funded INSIST-VAT project (Institutional, Sustainable and Innovative Strengthening of Vocational Agricultural Training in Albania) met at the Agricultural University of Tirana.
The aim of this project is to establish a permanent training centre in Albania and develop innovative training initiatives adapted to the needs of the sector and the demands of the job market.
A new European Union-funded project is set to boost agricultural training, knowledge exchange, and rural innovation in Albania, with CIHEAM Montpellier playing a key role as a coordinating institution. The INSIST-VAT project (Institutional, Sustainable and Innovative Strengthening of Vocational Agricultural Training in Albania) will establish a permanent training centre at the Agricultural University of Tirana by 2027. This centre will provide modern, practical training programmes for farmers, agricultural advisors, and institutional staff across Albania.
From left to right, upper row: Elena Kokthi, Agricultural University of Tirana, Virginie Avignon, CIHEAM-IAMM, Violaine Lejeune, ACTA, Christophe Mur, CIHEAM-IAMM, Blerta Mehmedi-Kastrati, University of Prishtina, Klea Doko, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development, Remzi Keco, Agricultural University of Tirana, Franco Turri, AICS, Festim Shytaj, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Paolo Viviani, CIHEAM-IAMB, Evelina Hazizaj, ANRD, Juliana Sinanaj, Peoples and Ideas
From left to right, lower row: Irene Gavieiro Agud, CIHEAM-IAMZ, Zenepe Dafku, Agricultural University of Tirana, Andrés Schlagetter, CIHEAM-IAMZ, Raúl Compés López, CIHEAM-IAMZ, Fatmir Guri, Agricultural University of Tirana, Alberto Sartori, CIHEAM-IAMB, Nicolas Deleligne, QUARES
SUPPORTING ALBANIA'S AGRICULTURAL FUTURE
The project directly supports Albania's national rural development strategy, launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in January 2022, which identifies agricultural knowledge as essential for building sustainable food systems. By creating accessible, high-quality training opportunities, INSIST-VAT will help Albanian farmers adapt to climate change and compete in global markets through sustainable agricultural practices.
STRONG INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP
INSIST-VAT brings together eight partner organisations from four countries. From Albania, the project includes the Agricultural University of Tirana, the Agricultural Technology Transfer Centre Fushë Krujë and the Agricultural Technology Transfer Centre Korçë. French partners comprise CIHEAM Montpellier (serving as project coordinator), the Agricultural Technical Coordination Association (ACTA), and the Association for Quality in Research and Higher Education (QUARES). The University of Prishtina represents Kosovo, whilst CIHEAM Zaragoza brings Spanish expertise to the consortium.
FIRST STEPS UNDERWAY
INSIST-VAT was officially launched in January 2025 during a 3 day kick-off meeting in Montpellier. The first steering committee meeting was held in Tirana from 23 to 24 June 2025. This event brought together all consortium partners to review progress, align on key objectives. The meeting included a visit to the Agricultural Technology Transfer Centre Fushë Krujë, one of the members of the consortium, giving partners direct insight into local agricultural innovation efforts.
To engage Albanian stakeholders, a high-level workshop on "New challenges for agriculture - new knowledge needs" was organised on 25 June 2025.
BUILDING LONG-TERM IMPACT
Project coordinator Christophe Mur from CIHEAM Montpellier explained the project's broader vision: "INSIST-VAT goes beyond delivering training; it aims to build a long-term knowledge system that enables Albanian farmers and institutions, and ultimately the ones in Kosovo, to drive agricultural transformation from the ground up."
The new training centre will become a cornerstone of Albania's Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) – a key pillar for building sustainable food systems and calls for accessible, high-quality training to strengthen producer capacity–, advancing vocational education and aligning with European Union quality standards. By engaging national departments and regional actors, the project will also help to ensure the long-term sustainability of training services and knowledge-sharing mechanisms.
The involvement of Kosovo, which faces similar agricultural challenges and training needs, will allow the future transferability of these training tools.
PROJECT DETAILS
INSIST-VAT is co-funded by the EU-Erasmus+ programme for Capacity Building in Vocational Education and Training, with a total grant of €395,674. Project Number: 101183189.
The initiative focuses on improving employment prospects and resilience for crop farmers in Albania, a member country of CIHEAM (International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies). The project runs until December 2027.
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