SCANDAL / The Rector of the University of Elbasan under the shadow of illegal titles

A shocking investigation raises suspicions of blatant violations of the law and the involvement of several institutions in the awarding of academic titles.

The Rector of “Aleksandër Xhuvani” University, Elvira Fetahu, who was recently promoted as an institutional success story following her election to lead the Balkan Universities Alliance (BUA) for 2028, is now at the center of a serious scandal that calls into question not only her academic career but also the integrity of the entire university system in Albania.

After months of research, interviews, and document verification, the investigative portal “Pa Rrena” has uncovered a series of facts that cast serious doubt on how Fetahu obtained the academic titles of “Associate Professor” and later “Professor,” in open violation of the legislation in force.

According to official documentation, Elvira Fetahu completed her doctorate in 2015 at “Aleksandër Moisiu” University. However, just a few months later, in 2016, she was awarded the title of “Associate Professor.” This fact directly contradicts Law no. 80/2015 “On Higher Education,” which requires a minimum period of five years after obtaining the “Doctor” degree before applying for this title.

Even if the previous law no. 9741/2007 were to be considered, it stipulated a minimum period of three years—another criterion that appears to have been violated in this case. Therefore, under any legal interpretation, Fetahu’s advancement to this title appears premature and in violation of the legal framework.

But the scandal does not end here.

In 2024, Fetahu also obtained the title of “Professor” at the Agricultural University of Tirana, another procedure that, according to the investigation, is considered suspicious and potentially in violation of legal and academic standards.

What makes this case even more alarming is the fact that these procedures do not pass through a single step, but through several institutional filters: the respective faculties, academic senates, and Permanent Promotion Commissions at both universities, as well as the final verification by the Ministry of Education and Sports.

The question that naturally arises is: how is it possible that all these structures, composed of professors and experts, failed to identify such a clear violation of the law?

The investigation raises suspicions of two serious scenarios: either we are dealing with a massive institutional failure, where several key structures failed to enforce the law, or with deliberate cooperation to bypass legal criteria and produce academic titles unlawfully.

In both cases, the consequences are severe.

Granting academic titles in violation of the law strikes at the very foundation of meritocracy, distorts academic competition, and undermines the trust of students and lecturers in the university system. At the same time, it calls into question the competence and legitimacy of the leaders of higher education institutions, who make decisions with a direct impact on the future of universities.

Meanwhile, the promotion of Elvira Fetahu to a regional structure such as BUA, which includes around 120 universities in the Balkans, risks turning from a prestigious achievement into a serious blow to the international reputation of “Aleksandër Xhuvani” University.

In light of these developments, demands for transparency and accountability have become urgent. The Ministry of Education and Sports, as the highest supervisory institution, is expected to provide explanations and undertake a full audit of the procedures followed.

At the same time, public pressure is increasing for institutional and personal reflection, including calls for resignation from the position of rector, as an act of responsibility and transparency toward the academic community and public opinion.

This case is not merely an individual issue, but an important test for the integrity of the higher education system in Albania. The way it is handled will determine whether law and meritocracy remain the foundations upon which Albanian academia is built, or whether they have been replaced by practices that risk becoming the norm.

"KORÇA BOOM"