Author: Dallandyshe Xhaferri | Citizens.al
In the auditoriums of Albanian public universities, corruption is not a rumor, but a direct experience. Students know who the lecturer is looking for "honor" and "favor" for a grade, or who sells books under duress. But almost no one dares to address this trend.
A survey conducted by the organization "Tek Bunkeri" in seven public universities in the country reveals a disturbing picture: one in every four students admits to having been a witness or victim of corrupt affairs.
However, over 300 of them say they do not trust the institutions that are supposed to protect them, while others admit they remain silent for fear of academic retaliation.
Silence in universities seems to have become part of the system, an accepted form of conformity in the face of a culture of corruption that begins with exams and ends with tenders for educational institutions.
Fear and distrust
During the period January-July 2025, the organization "Tek Bunkeri" conducted a survey at the University of Tirana, Arts, Medicine, Polytechnic, Agriculture, as well as the universities of Shkodra and Elbasan.
In total, 1055 students answered the questionnaires anonymously. Over 700 of them rated corruption at their universities as “very high”, "high" or "average".
About 25% of students admitted that they had been witnesses or victims of corruption cases involving professors but had not reported the cases to the Rectors' Office or justice institutions because they were afraid or distrustful.
This is understood from the fact that 330 students declared that they did not trust the authorities; 327 said they lacked evidence and 220 admitted that they feared retaliation from academic staff.
Citizens Channel asked universities for information on the number of complaints and policies for preventing corruption. Only the University of Tirana and the Polytechnic responded, denying any reports from students.
"Corruption is destroying public universities"
According to Kolindo Vjerdhë, representative of "Civic Resistance", corruption in universities appears in various forms: fees for courses, the purchase of books, payments for grades or even sexual favors.
"Corruption is the phenomenon that is destroying public universities from within. The only hope for changing the situation remains justice and serious punishment of cases," Vjerdha told Citizens.
Albanian law provides for imprisonment from 6 months to 3 years for any irregular benefit received by persons with public office. But the phenomenon, according to experts, is two-sided.
Education expert Ndriçim Mehmeti emphasizes that some students have become complicit in corruption, seeing bribery as "easy solution" for a passing grade.
"We must admit that some of them see the path of giving money as easier, also due to the fact that their annual preparation, gaps in secondary education and other factors, such as employment to support themselves, make them uncertain about their chances of succeeding in the exams," Mehmeti analyzes.
According to him, one reason why students are involved in corruption cases with professors has to do with the lack of courage of students to raise their voices as well as the dysfunction of student organizations.
Mehmeti adds that the lack of complaint mechanisms also influences this trend.
A Polytechnic University student, who asked to remain anonymous, claimed that "Whoever is rich has it easier", while the rest "tries to survive in the system." According to him, corrupt teachers are clearly distinguishable.
"How do we understand it? Often, students who do not respond to seminars, do not come to the auditoriums, but come out with a higher average than the rest," he says.
However, corruption in universities is not limited to the teacher-student relationship. In 2022, the Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) investigated officials of the Agricultural University for the manipulation of 9 tenders worth a total of 90 million lek.
This investigation involved 24 people, including administrators, entrepreneurs, and senior university officials.
In February 2025, the Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime (CACOC) issued arrest and appearance orders for some of them, confirming in a way that the university system is affected by corruption at every level.
