Scandal/ They graduate in law and start their Master's, their degree is not recognized

2023-12-14 21:11:00, Denoncim CNA

Scandal/ They graduate in law and start their Master's, their degree is not

"Stop" was in Vlora for the problem of students who have completed their law studies in 2022 at the private university "Pavarësia", where they have matriculated and received a diploma.

But in the meantime, they have started their Master's studies at "Ismail Qemali" University and in the second year they get stuck, as QSHA does not enroll them, calling their diplomas invalid, since the university was not accredited.

"We completed our Bachelor's studies at the university college "Pavarësia", which is a private university. During the period 2019-2022, where in this year we graduated and were also equipped with diplomas and matriculation numbers, where everything appears in order. Then we enrolled in the Master's at "Ismail Qemali" University, where at the end of the first year of the Master's, we were presented with the problem by the QSHA that we cannot present with the matriculation number for the Master's because the Bachelor's program is not accredited by "Pavarësia" University. We are in the second year of our Master's studies where our studies have been suspended, we are not allowed to make payments or register for courses. The instances we have addressed have not returned an answer for interpretation of what should be done with us students. There are hundreds of students from 2018, in which the university's previous accreditation cycle was completed, hundreds of students from 2018 onwards, have the same problem as us", said the student whistleblower.

The journalist met with the vice rector of the "Pavarësia" university, Siri Hoxha, who claims that the diploma of this university is regular and the solution should be sought at the ministry.

"These are registered with the portal, they have matriculation from QSHA. We do a process that is checked and monitored twice a year by the ministry. We were in the process of accreditation, they closed the studies in an orderly manner", he said.

In 2019, when the university was in the process of accreditation, students were given the opportunity to choose this university despite the fact that they were not given the assurance that at the end of the study cycle they would have a valid diploma or not.

Siri Hoxha: We have maintained all communication with the ministry on this issue. The Ministry has started correspondence with QSHA. He asks them to register. They return them.

Journalist: No, you don't ask them because you weren't enrolled when they finished their studies.

Siri Hoxha: It is not like that because there is also a decision of the ministry that tells QSHA that these students will be matriculated.

Reporter: Where do you have the answer? Why didn't you make it available to them? Today they are faced with the fact that they cannot register.

Student: She even hung up on me and when I came to school to meet them, they told me to leave and I didn't find anyone. Provide me with the letter presented by the ministry for our matriculation. Where is it?

Siri Hoxha: Ok, let me give them a lift.

Student: Yes, come on.

Siri Hoxha: Yes definitely.

Journalist: Students cannot finish their Master's.

Siri Hoxha: He is speaking extremely badly.

Journalist: Because they are not recognized as Bachelors.

Siri Hoxha: He is speaking extremely badly.

Reporter: Give me an answer about these students.

Siri Hoxha: Go, address the ministry.

Reporter: No sir, we came up here because you have a solution for these students.

Siri Hoxha: He finished his studies with me, he got them all.

Journalist: You don't know me, sir, you don't know me.

Siri Hoxha: I'm going, so I asked the ministry why they left this thing.

Journalist: How did you do this degree at a time when you did not have accreditation?

Siri Hoxha: We have been in the process of accreditation and there is a decision on this.

Journalist: Yes, and you have not won the accreditation.

In March 2023, there is a negative response from the Accreditation Agency of Higher Education Institutions for "Independence" University.

But until now there is no answer and solution for students who have completed their studies during the time that the accreditation lasted from 2018 to 2023.

At the "Ismail Qemali" State University, Rector Roland Zisi says that the answer to this concern is in the Ministry of Education and QSHA.

"The answer to this question is the minister, QSHA", he said.

According to him, the registration of the students was done, since the diplomas had a matriculation number and then the rejection for matriculation in the Master was done by the QSHA.

QSHA itself says in the official answer, that when the students were enrolled in the first cycle of studies at "Pavarësia" University, the license was taken into account in 2009.

Meanwhile, in 2022 they do not enroll because the university was not accredited in 2019-2022. This happens when this institution was the one that enrolled them in 2019.

The climax of this story is the recognition as valid by the Ministry of Education of the diplomas issued by the university college "Pavarësia" and not by QSHA.

And finally, on December 6, 2023, the decision was taken by the Council of Ministers to close this university./tvklan.al