The exam season is one of the most stressful times for students. The libraries and study halls are filled with crowds of students who wish to pass the following exam. However, between the buzzing discussions that argue the test answers, there is also another phrase thrown around: “How much money should I give?”. The sentence that showcases the hidden truth that everybody agrees not to speak out loud, the fact that corruption is a widespread practice that has infected to a degree every aspect of higher education in Albania. To pinpoint the exact cause of corruption would be difficult, but what is evident is its prominence and the disappointment of young people that derives from this phenomenon.
Although publicly Albania speaks of educational integrity and international standards, the testimonies that derive from students and civil society tell a different story. They declare an arena where grades -and even degrees- can be bought, merit can be forged and nepotism thrives. The presumption remains that everyone can get a degree in Albania even if they haven’t been in a lecture a day if they know the right people and give the right amount of money.
Considering the normalisation of corruption in universities, 89.98% of Albanian students believe that corruption is present (Qëndresa Qytetare & Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, 2025). According to testimonies, this practice varies in forms and degrees and oftentimes is not simply the exchange of money for a grade. One way that professors can impose misconduct is through coercing students to buy a specific book, often their own published work, from a specific vendor. Another method is through misuse of funds by university administration, which stems from the deeper issue of lack of controlling mechanisms. In the most serious instances there have also been cases of sexual favours in exchange for passing a class. This particularly demonstrates an absence of integrity and respect for the institution of education.
Corruption also puts at a disadvantage righteous students who work for their grade and have denied it due to the lecturer’s expectation of receiving a bribe. In their case, it shows that their effort is not appreciated and integrity is not sufficient in Albania. This causes breeding ground for doubt and is a factor for the mass migration of young people out of the country, since 54.17% have little to no trust that corruption cases are handled fairly by universities (Qëndresa Qytetare & Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, 2025).The fact that students are not being appreciated in our country will in the future be the cause of a lack of cultural elite in Albania which is an important element for the social development of our country.
The major issue when fighting corruption stems from the institutionalisation of it. Corruption in Albanian higher education is not just one or two secluded cases but a whole network of participants and mechanisms that make the practice possible. Sometimes it is the students themselves, in order to profit the grade, that compromise their integrity and perpetrate the system. The managerial approach also obstructs reporting and a fair process due to the lack of lecturers in certain fields. We have heard many cases of professors being found guilty of corruption and returning to their positions once the situation has cooled down (European Commission, 2025). In addition, students often fear that their retaliation will cause them to fail classes, get their diplomas delayed or suffer from a disliked reputation.
Albanian universities in themselves do have the necessary mechanisms to prevent and report cases of corruption, such as student councils, ethics committees and complaint offices. The issue lies in their inactivity and sometimes their superficial role that disables them from taking real action. This also stems from the fact that universities were left out of the anti-corruption governmental framework and therefore are more prone to having fewer controls than other state institutions (Qëndresa Qytetare & Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, 2025).
In conclusion, corruption is a prominent problem in Albanian higher education and it is a cause for discouragement among youth. As a phenomenon, it can reveal itself in many different forms and not just as monetary exchange. The most prominent obstacle in erasing it stems from its institutionalisation and a lack of functional control mechanisms that would make reporting efficient and judgement fair. A known solution has yet to be put to work but what is certain is that corruption is a national emergency that will have dire consequences for the future of the country if not confronted.
This article was created as part of the project “Upholding Integrity: Coalition Building for Fighting Corruption in Higher Education,” organized by the Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) within the framework of the SELDI Small Grants Programme “Financial Support for Grassroots and Youth CSOs with Outreach to Citizens,” funded by the European Union. All content is the sole responsibility of AIIS and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or SELDI.net.
Photo by Ankita Konwar on Unsplash
