ROAMING Project Final Conference in Tirana Showcases Achievements and Sets Vision for Future Mobility Initiatives

The ROAMING Project, an ERASMUS+ initiative focused on strengthening mobility frameworks in the Western Balkans, held its final conference last week at LOGOS University College in Tirana, Albania. This milestone event brought together educators, administrators, and ERASMUS+ partners to celebrate project achievements and discuss the way forward for sustained collaboration.

The conference opened with welcoming remarks from Prof. Dr. Ilia Ninka, Rector of LOGOS University College, followed by a project overview by Prof. Konstantinos Giakoumis, ROAMING Project Coordinator. Attendees were then treated to a visual presentation featuring project highlights and personal testimonials, created by Anisa Duka and Medina Orana.

Key discussions of the conference focused on the project’s five major work packages: Work Package 1 on management, led by Prof. Konstantinos Giakoumis; Work Package 2 on reconfiguring International Relations Offices (IROs), overseen by Dr. Flora Krasniqi; Work Package 3 on development and enhancement of IROs, guided by Prof. Eleni Griva; Work Package 4 on quality assurance, presented by Mrs. Mirjana Krsmanović-Vlajić; and Work Package 5 on dissemination and exploitation, coordinated by Ms. Medina Orana. A panel discussion moderated by Prof. Artur Ribaj allowed work package leaders to reflect on the successes and challenges faced in developing stronger IROs across partner institutions, fostering a more interconnected educational landscape.

The afternoon sessions included progress reports and assessments from various institutional representatives, highlighting project impacts at LOGOS University College, POLIS University, ESN-Albania, International Business College Mitrovica, RIT Kosovo, and Mediterranean University in Podgorica. Dr. Valbona Nathanaili of LOGOS moderated the session, guiding discussions on each institution’s direct outcomes and experiences.

The conference concluded with a quality assessment presentation by Dr. Christina Kontogoulidou, the project’s external auditor, and a forward-looking panel led by Prof. Konstantinos Giakoumis. Attendees expressed commitment to advancing the project’s objectives beyond its official end, ensuring long-lasting partnerships and mobility opportunities.

Parallel events throughout the day included poster presentations on internationalization topics and a specialized training session, “ESN-Albania School,” for ERASMUS Student Network (ESN) volunteers, conducted in collaboration with ESN-Ancona from Italy.

The final day of the conference offered participants a cultural tour, experiencing Albania’s rich history and cultural heritage with visits to landmarks such as Saint John Vladimir’s Monastery, Durrës Castle and Amphitheatre, and Saint Blaise’s Monastery. This experience symbolized the broader aim of the ROAMING Project: to strengthen intercultural connections across educational borders in the Western Balkans.