13.11.2024
Emigration has recently become common in our country, what makes us think is undoubtedly the understanding of the causes that lead to the growth of this phenomenon day by day. First of all, we should look at the reality and challenges of youth in Albania. The unusual departure of young people from Albania, mainly for emigration, is not just a social and economic problem but also negatively affects the quality of democracy in the country.
In my point of view, it all starts with the problems that come since the stage of education in Albanian universities. There are many problems, but if we have to be more concise and focused on the phenomenon of emigration, the first problem is the inconsistency of academic courses and masters, which, although they are not updated and non-contemporary with the demands and needs of the market. Universities seem to be at the point where students are just numbers for them to generate income and to keep the institution alive, it seems that they are not worried about building bridges with the labor market, to prepare young professionals, worthy and able to join the market to offer solutions for its current needs. High school graduates who wish to study abroad the country, compared to those who wish to study in Albania, prefer "computer science, informatics and electronics", "engineering and construction" which in Albania are either not applied in the market standards or are not offered at all.
The state of a general academic "comfort and lethargy" is the first cause that directly affects demoralization and the inability to find useful students in the labor market, which will undoubtedly lead to the eventual emigration of students from the country.
The second most important actor in this as the most important cause is the state and the way it tries or not to stop the emigration of young people from its country. First, according to the "Pact for the University" built by the government after the student protests of December 2018, it was promised that every excellent student in our country will have the opportunity to join the public administration of the country with a one-year contract, to gain experience. Has this promise been strictly implemented? No, since June 2022 the call continues to remain inactive, even though it was supposed to be applicable every year for graduate students with high results. On the other hand, as far as routine calls at the Public Department of the State, even there students remain excluded from the famous "lack of experience" factor. Of course, the state does not seem to be helping much in keeping the country's youth in their homes. Most people want to leave the country because they graduate and can't find a job.
Another reason for the "lucky ones" who manage to secure a job related to their profession and again 'choose' to emigrate is the salary. In comparison with the prices and the periodic increase that have occurred in recent years, the rent payments and high daily expenses are the primary reason for young people leaving the country. Difficulty, lack of perspective, financial difficulties and unemployment in the study profile, all three, have been identified as the main causes. If your salary is not able to cover the minimum needs, if the working day is less than the daily expenses, obviously leaving will be a solution for a better life and not a choice, when the option of staying does not remain for very long an alternative.
In fact, leaving everything related to your country is never easy and it is important to remember that this solution never comes easily and desired by youth, since the emotional and psychological costs that come with the decision to emigrate, are as difficult as facing with the reality of staying. A case when in the eyes of young people this situation seems hopeless and unchangeable, the demoralization is so great that emigration is hardly temporary, a good part of those who left do not even see themselves in the Albanian market anymore. This phenomenon must be recognized as not being a personal crisis for each young person who leaves, but a system crisis that involves the entire country.
Can emigration be stopped? Undoubtedly, it is enough for the responsible parties to want to. Accepting the situation as a start and serious commit to its solution. The situation is serious and deserves to be treated as such, if we are interested in further curbing this phenomenon. Universities must wake up and become active, dignified and quality contributors, and the government, on the other hand, must be more sensitive and react, simply by fulfilling its promises.
Sindi Beqiri has completed her higher studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Tirana in Political Science and her master degree in Regional Political Studies. She is mainly engaged in civil society in the issues of students and democracy. Her areas of interest are political theory, philosophy and regional issues.