E-ISSN 2039-2117 ISSN 2039-9340 Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences MCSER Publishing, Rome-Italy Vol 4 No 10 October 2013 666 Albanian “Bologna” How close/far is Albanian Higher Education to European standards? Dr. Tomi Treska European University of Tirana Dr. Erjona Canaj European University of Tirana Doi:10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n10p666 Abstract Bologna process brought many important changes in the Albanian higher education system. The main objective of the Bologna system of higher education is to achieve European standards in access as well as the quality of the studies. Higher education system in Albania appears to be reformed on the basis of published and already accepted standards in member countries of the European Higher Education Area, making it comparable and compatible with other European systems of higher education. Significant results so far speak for its positive influence and it has open new perspectives towards a European quality education of the Albanian students. However, there are still challenges and difficulties.The purpose of this paper is to present a comprehensive analysis of the European higher education legislation; the study of some essential elements of this system as the financing system of universities, ECTS, and recognition/non-recognition of Albanian degrees in European countries, in order to define how close/far is Albanian Higher Education System to the European standards. Keywords: European legislation, higher education, ECTS, mobility, diploma recognition etc. 1. Introduction In 2012, the higher education panorama results to be transformed due to Bologna System/Process. All the Member States of this process have realized significant changes that have facilitated the European High Education Area (Ehea/Heal) to be better determined by laying down the foundations for a higher education which will fulfill the ongoing increasing requests of the society. The higher education structures have changed: developing in principle stable systems of quality and the mechanisms to facilitate the mobility of both students and the docents. Furthermore, the current issues are already defined and projected in a social dimension of Higher Education. Such a project, unprecedented in itself, based on volunteer cooperation, separation and implementation of common objectives of the Higher Education systems of the 47 member states. Albania is one of those states that have signed and implemented Bologna Agreement. Nowadays, Albania is a member of NATO and aspires to receive the Status of candidate country to the European Union. Certainly, this huge step, on the one hand requires the consolidation of democracy, a considerable economic development, constant battling against poverty, and on the other hand, it obligates the approximation of the legislation framework in the field of education in comply with the international and European standards. In years, in the conferences and the meetings of the ministers, it is underlined the fact that Europe should face with the global dynamic economy, based on knowledge, capable to deal with the economic increase by means of more modern and complementary actions, as well as a stronger social cohesion. The goal of these structures is preservation of the cultural richness and language diversity, based on the diversity of the assets and the inherited traditions from different cultural groups. Particularly, in the Ministers Conference of the Education in Berlin (2003), where the ministers accepted the Albanian request to be included in Bologna Process, they declared that membership means a fundamental reform for all the signing countries, approximation of the legislation and creation of a common space, open and flexible for the Higher Education. Nowadays, it is already a fact, that Bologna Process has brought very important changes in the Albanian Higher Education. The main goal for the Albanian Higher Education is achieving European standards in access and studying quality, too. The Albanian higher education System seems to be reformed based on the standards determined and already accepted in all the member countries of the European Higher Education Zone (EHEA) making it comparable