The Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF) and the Ministry of Education signed today a cooperation agreement marking an important step toward reforming Albania’s educational services system through the establishment and strengthening of the National Agency for Educational Services (AKSHA).
The agreement aims to transform the institution responsible for administering national examinations and other key educational services into a modern, autonomous institution based on international standards.
The signing ceremony, held at the Innovation Hub in the Pyramid of Tirana, brought together senior representatives of domestic institutions and international partners, including the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, AADF Board Chairman Michael Granoff, AADF co-CEOs Aleksandër Sarapuli and Martin Mata, Minister of Education and Sports Mirela Kumbaro, as well as international experts from Cambridge University Press & Assessment.
AADF Board Chairman 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. Just like any building, education needs a strong 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.”
The agreement follows the approval of the new legal framework for the creation of AKSHA, which will operate as an autonomous agency under the Ministry of Education. Its role will be to improve the quality, efficiency, and reliability of services related to assessment and certification in Albania’s education system.
Minister of Education Mirela Kumbaro emphasized that the initiative represents not only an expansion in capacity and administration, but also a new approach that reforms services and modernizes systems in response to the pace of the digital era in education and beyond. She highlighted the partnership with AADF and the support of one of the world’s leading assessment centers, the Cambridge Assessment Centre.
Under 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 with the Ministry of Education and the relevant institution, focusing on building a sustainable long-term model.
Support will focus on several strategic directions, including:
- implementation of the new legal and organizational framework,
- strengthening internal systems and processes,
- investment in technology and digitalization,
- and creating a sustainable financial foundation 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. The partnership includes a feasibility study and the drafting of a 10-year strategic plan for the institution’s development, focusing on improving operational models, expanding testing services, and integrating advanced technologies.
During his speech, Prime Minister Edi Rama stressed that bringing Cambridge standards of excellence to Albania is an investment in a fairer, more modern, and more trustworthy education system. He emphasized that strong institutions are built on trust, and trust comes when processes are fair, transparent, and protected from interference.
The proposed interventions aim to increase the efficiency and transparency of testing processes, reduce costs and processing times, and expand the range of services, including testing for the public and private sectors as well as international certifications.
This collaboration builds on a previous partnership between AADF and the Ministry of Education dating back to 2018, as well as an investment approved by the AADF Board in 2020 for the creation of a modern testing center valued at $4.95 million.
During the event, the vision for AKSHA’s new facilities was also presented — a modern 3,500 m² space designed to meet the highest international standards in the administration of testing and assessment processes.
The partnership reflects AADF’s approach to investing in transformative models and sustainable institutions by bringing international expertise and building systems that guarantee long-term quality and public trust.
Through this initiative, a fundamental transformation is expected in the way assessment services are administered and delivered in Albania, setting new standards for the country’s education system.
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