Albania is home to one of the world’s most vibrant diaspora communities, with over 1.4 million Albanians living abroad. Within this global network, more than 2,500 individuals of Albanian descent have earned Ph.D. degrees and are based in countries around the world.
Although many of these highly educated professionals may not intend to return to Albania permanently, their potential to positively influence the country remains significant. In response, the Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF) launched the READ Fellowship program (Research Expertise from the Academic Diaspora). This initiative is designed to leverage the knowledge, experience, and international networks of the Albanian scientific diaspora to enhance higher education and research in Albania.
The READ program aims to award more than 100 fellowships and research grants to Albanian scholars and scientists living abroad by the end of 2028. The program was met with strong and immediate support from Albanian Higher Education Institutions, which readily signed collaboration agreements and embraced the valuable contributions of diaspora experts.
