AADF and the Ministry of Education sign an agreement to enhance education services in Albania

The Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF) and the Ministry of Education signed today a cooperation agreement marking an important step toward reforming the education services system in Albania through the establishment and strengthening of the National Agency for Education Services (AKSHA).

The agreement aims to transform the institution responsible for administering national exams and other key education services, guiding it toward a modern, autonomous model aligned with international standards.

The signing ceremony, held at the Innovation Hub at the Pyramid of Tirana, brought together high-level representatives of Albanian institutions and international partners, including the Prime Minister of Albania, Mr. Edi Rama, the Chairman of the AADF Board, Mr. Michael Granoff, AADF Co-CEOs Mr. Aleksandër Sarapuli and Mr. Martin Mata, the Minister of Education and Sports, Ms. Mirela Kumbaro, as well as international experts from Cambridge University Press & Assessment.

The Chairman of the AADF Board, Mr. Michael D. Granoff, stated:

“If you want to understand the future of a country, you only need to look at its education system. That is why investing in strong and trustworthy institutions is so essential. Like any building, education also needs a solid foundation. Without reliable institutions and clear standards, everything built upon them remains fragile. Students, teachers, and society as a whole must trust the integrity and fairness of the system. Our goal is not to invent new models, but to bring the best international standards and partnerships to Albania, in order to build institutions that last.”

This agreement follows the approval of the new legal framework for the establishment of AKSHA, which will operate as an autonomous agency under the Ministry of Education. Its role will be to enhance the quality, efficiency, and reliability of services related to assessment and certification within Albania’s education system.

“We are at a moment that comes as a natural need to expand, and here I do not mean only in terms of capacity or administrative organization, but in a new approach that, beyond walls and halls, reforms services and modernizes systems, responding to the pace dictated by the digital age in education and every other sector. It has been a colossal effort, thanks to which we now have a shared model for improving the quality, reliability, and modernization of the assessment system in Albania. With AADF, through the signing of the new agreement, we enter another phase, where the support of a donor such as the Albanian-American Development Foundation enables us to access the expertise of one of the best assessment centers globally, Cambridge Assessment,” said the Minister of Education, Ms. Mirela Kumbaro.

Within this framework, AADF will support the institutional capacity-building of AKSHA by improving operational processes, strengthening transparency and integrity, and accelerating the digital transformation of services. The agreement formalizes a joint action plan developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the respective institution, focusing on building a sustainable and long-term institutional model.

Support will be focused on several strategic areas:

• Implementation of the new legal and organizational framework;
• Strengthening internal systems and processes;
• Investment in technology and digitalization;
• Establishing a sustainable financial model for the agency’s operations.

A key component of this transformation is the collaboration with Cambridge University Press & Assessment, engaged by AADF to provide international expertise. This partnership has included a feasibility study and the development of a 10-year strategic plan for the institution, focusing on improving operational models, expanding testing services, and integrating advanced technologies.

During his remarks, Prime Minister Edi Rama emphasized:

“Bringing standards of excellence such as those of Cambridge to Albania is an investment in a fairer, more modern, and more trustworthy education system. Strong institutions are built on trust. And trust comes when processes are fair, transparent, and protected from any interference. Today, we are taking another very important step toward the modernization of educational services, placing technology and international standards at the service of merit, transparency, and quality.”

The proposed interventions aim to increase efficiency and transparency in testing processes, reduce processing time and costs, and expand the range of services, including testing for both the public and private sectors, as well as international certifications.

This collaboration builds on an earlier partnership between AADF and the Ministry of Education, dating back to 2018, and on an investment approved by the AADF Board in 2020 for the establishment of a modern testing center, with a total value of USD 4,950,000.

As part of the event, the vision for AKSHA’s new premises was also presented—a modern facility of approximately 3,500 m², designed to meet the highest international standards for testing, security, and administration of education services.

This partnership reflects AADF’s approach to investing in transformative models and sustainable institutions, bringing international expertise and building systems that ensure quality and long-term public trust.

“Strengthening institutions that guarantee quality, integrity, and public trust is fundamental for the future of education. This collaboration aims to support a modern public service model with long-term impact,” it was emphasized during the ceremony.

Through this initiative, a fundamental transformation is envisioned in how national assessment services are administered and delivered in Albania, setting new standards for the education system.