Skender Muçaj: The institutes were part of the Academy of Sciences and the reform in 2007 did not bring anything good to science, the change made in ASA has no consequences

The draft decision of the government that leads to the closure of the Academy of Albanological Studies and the transfer of the assets of this institution under the Academy of Sciences has brought reactions from researchers. Opinions for and against this draft decision, which brings the closure of ASA's activity and the transfer of all its rights and obligations to the Academy of Sciences of Albania. Researchers and leaders of ASA have expressed themselves against this draft decision, but prof. dr. Skender Muçaj says that the change that can be made has no consequences for the Academy of Albanian Studies. According to him, with the reform that took place years ago, the institutes shrunk. "All institutes have been part of the Academy of Sciences. There were 16 once, there were scientific centers and they all depended on the Academy of Sciences. ASH had a central administration with not many people. The personnel directorate, the finance director who maintained financial relations with the government. But with the implementation of the reform, the institutes shrank, for example, archeology remained with 20 people, from the 57 that were there before the changes were made. Most of the institutes were merged, some went to the university and became part of it, but they don't work. There is no science in the university. There were only 4 institutes left and the Center of Albanological Studies was created and then they changed their name and became the Academy of Albanological Studies", says archaeologist Muçaj. According to the archaeologist, years ago the QSA was created by the merger of four institutes, but what is happening according to him is not an alarming situation. "The change that is made for me has no consequences because the institutes of ASH existed before 2008. It is not to sound an alarm", says prof. dr. Mucaj archaeologist. the director of finance who maintained financial relations with the government. But with the implementation of the reform, the institutes shrank, for example, archeology remained with 20 people, from the 57 that were there before the changes were made. Most of the institutes were merged, some went to the university and became part of it, but they don't work. There is no science in the university. There were only 4 institutes left and the Center of Albanological Studies was created and then they changed their name and became the Academy of Albanological Studies", says archaeologist Muçaj. According to the archaeologist, years ago the QSA was created by the merger of four institutes, but what is happening according to him is not an alarming situation. "The change that is made for me has no consequences because the institutes of ASH existed before 2008. It is not to sound an alarm", says prof. dr. Mucaj archaeologist. the director of finance who maintained financial relations with the government. But with the implementation of the reform, the institutes shrank, for example, archeology remained with 20 people, from the 57 that were there before the changes were made. Most of the institutes were merged, some went to the university and became part of it, but they don't work. There is no science in the university. There were only 4 institutes left and the Center of Albanological Studies was created and then they changed their name and became the Academy of Albanological Studies", says archaeologist Muçaj. According to the archaeologist, years ago the QSA was created by the merger of four institutes, but what is happening according to him is not an alarming situation. "The change that is made for me has no consequences because the institutes of ASH existed before 2008. It is not to sound an alarm", says prof. dr. Mucaj archaeologist. But with the implementation of the reform, the institutes shrank, for example, archeology remained with 20 people, from the 57 that were there before the changes were made. Most of the institutes were merged, some went to the university and became part of it, but they don't work. There is no science in the university. There were only 4 institutes left and the Center of Albanological Studies was created and then they changed their name and became the Academy of Albanological Studies", says archaeologist Muçaj. According to the archaeologist, years ago the QSA was created by the merger of four institutes, but what is happening according to him is not an alarming situation. "The change that is made for me has no consequences because the institutes of ASH existed before 2008. It is not to sound an alarm", says prof. dr. Mucaj archaeologist. But with the implementation of the reform, the institutes shrank, for example, archeology remained with 20 people, from the 57 that were there before the changes were made. Most of the institutes were merged, some went to the university and became part of it, but they don't work. There is no science in the university. There were only 4 institutes left and the Center of Albanological Studies was created and then they changed their name and became the Academy of Albanological Studies", says archaeologist Muçaj. According to the archaeologist, years ago the QSA was created by the merger of four institutes, but what is happening according to him is not an alarming situation. "The change that is made for me has no consequences because the institutes of ASH existed before 2008. It is not to sound an alarm", says prof. dr. Mucaj archaeologist. Most of the institutes were merged, some went to the university and became part of it, but they don't work. There is no science in the university. There were only 4 institutes left and the Center of Albanological Studies was created and then they changed their name and became the Academy of Albanological Studies", says archaeologist Muçaj. According to the archaeologist, years ago QSA was created by the merger of four institutes, but what is happening according to him is not an alarming situation. "The change that is made for me has no consequences because the institutes of ASH existed before 2008. It is not to sound an alarm", says prof. dr. Mucaj archaeologist. Most of the institutes were merged, some went to the university and became part of it, but they don't work. There is no science in the university. There were only 4 institutes left and the Center of Albanological Studies was created and then they changed their name and became the Academy of Albanological Studies", says archaeologist Muçaj. According to the archaeologist, years ago the QSA was created by the merger of four institutes, but what is happening according to him is not an alarming situation. "The change that is made for me has no consequences because the institutes of ASH existed before 2008. It is not to sound an alarm", says prof. dr. Mucaj archaeologist. There were only 4 institutes left and the Center of Albanological Studies was created and then they changed their name and became the Academy of Albanological Studies", says archaeologist Muçaj. According to the archaeologist, years ago the QSA was created by the merger of four institutes, but what is happening according to him is not an alarming situation. "The change that is made for me has no consequences because the institutes of ASH existed before 2008. It is not to sound an alarm", says prof. dr. Mucaj archaeologist. There were only 4 institutes left and the Center of Albanological Studies was created and then they changed their name and became the Academy of Albanological Studies", says archaeologist Muçaj. According to the archaeologist, years ago the QSA was created by the merger of four institutes, but what is happening according to him is not an alarming situation. "The change that is made for me has no consequences because the institutes of ASH existed before 2008. It is not to sound an alarm", says prof. dr. Mucaj archaeologist.   

Reform years ago

Prof. dr. Skender Muçaj says that even from the financial side it will be better for the institutes to be under the Academy of Sciences. Archaeologist Muçaj says that ASH has more financial opportunities than ASA. "There will be a reduction in administration, but the existing employees will stay. The Academy of Sciences has more financial opportunities than the ASA. I was part of the ASA and I know. The change that was made in 2007 did not bring anything good to science. From that period science began to degrade. We can talk as much as we want and say that they will not take the institutes, the Academy of Albanological Studies will be divided, etc., but comparing it to the first part, they are weaker. The first problem there is financial, they have not solved it well. But what is being done is not a joke. Those who are there will come to ASH. May melt any country, but there are some rules for the institutes", says archaeologist Muçaj in his reaction. According to archaeologist Muçaj, the Academy of Sciences holds assemblies and congresses, but he says that ASA does not have the same financial opportunity as ASH. "When we were at ASH, we had more opportunities to do bigger projects", says prof. dr. Muchaj. The Center of Albanological Studies (today the Academy of Albanological Studies) was created within the framework of the restructuring and modernization of the Albanian university and academic system, by decision of the Council of Ministers, from the merger of four Institutes (Archaeology, Linguistics and Literature, History, Popular Culture ) and two research units (Art Study, Albanian Encyclopedia) of the former Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Albania.