On 6 October 2026, the Faculty of Foreign Languages of the University of Tirana hosted a ceremony marking the introduction of Croatian into its academic offerings, an important milestone in expanding inter-university cooperation and strengthening the international dimension of the Faculty’s academic mission. Starting from the current academic year, students of the University of Tirana will have the opportunity to study Croatian and gain deeper insights into Croatia’s history, culture, literature, and traditions.
The event was opened by Prof. Dr. Esmeralda Kromidha, Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages, who emphasized the significance of this initiative, developed within the framework of the cooperation agreement between the University of Tirana and the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth of the Republic of Croatia. She highlighted the role of this partnership in fostering collaboration in scientific research, academic conferences, and scholarly publications, while creating new opportunities for educational and cultural exchange between the two countries.
The ceremony was attended by H.E. Dr. Zlatko Kramarić, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Albania; Prof. Dr. Mark Marku, Dean of the Faculty of History and Philology; and Ms. Ivana Fakac, Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth of the Republic of Croatia, who addressed the audience. In their remarks, they underscored the importance of promoting the Croatian language and culture within the Albanian higher education system as a valuable means of strengthening academic, cultural, and people-to-people ties between Albania and Croatia.
During the event, Dr. Nataša Veinović was officially introduced as Lecturer of Croatian Language and Literature at the Faculty of Foreign Languages. In this role, she will contribute to the development of Croatian language instruction and the promotion of Croatian studies across the University of Tirana.
A special highlight of the ceremony was the inauguration of the Croatian Language and Literature Collection at the “Rozafa” Library. The new collection will serve as an important academic resource for students, faculty members, researchers, and all those interested in Croatian language, literature, and culture.
The introduction of Croatian at the University of Tirana represents a significant achievement in the internationalization efforts of both the University and the Faculty of Foreign Languages, creating a new platform for academic, cultural, and scientific cooperation between Albania and Croatia. Through this initiative, the Faculty continues to promote multilingualism, intercultural dialogue, and international academic engagement as central pillars of its mission.
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