In alignment with European Union values on social cohesion and inclusive lifelong learning, Albania has announced the establishment of a “University for the Third Age” in Tirana, scheduled to open by 2030. Designed to serve approximately 80 citizens over the age of 50 annually, this initiative signals a deliberate shift in public policy—one that recognizes the aging population not as a burden, but as an underutilized social and economic asset.
Framed within the 2025–2030 strategic program, the University for the Third Age will offer interdisciplinary academic and vocational modules—including courses in arts, philosophy, history, languages, sciences, and current affairs. Its objectives are twofold: to foster cognitive and emotional wellbeing in older adults, and to integrate them more meaningfully into Albania’s economic and social fabric. The Ministry of Health explicitly identifies this institution as a means to counteract the growing prevalence of loneliness, depression, and inactivity among individuals aged 50 and above—who now represent 42% of the national population, according to the 2023 census.
Crucially, the initiative draws upon established models in France and the United Kingdom, adapting the French university-linked model and the UK’s peer-led learning structures to the Albanian context. In doing so, it aligns itself with key European frameworks—such as the European Pillar of Social Rights, which emphasizes equal access to education, and the Active Aging Index, a tool widely used across EU member states to measure the wellbeing and social engagement of older populations.
Furthermore, the integration of employment pathways—supported by commitments from over 300 businesses to offer flexible job roles—reflects EU labour market trends aimed at extending workforce participation among older citizens. These reskilling efforts contribute directly to Albania’s broader aspirations of labour market modernization and inclusive growth, as emphasized in its EU accession agenda.
Beyond its educational mandate, the university represents a soft power investment in democratic values: social participation, equal opportunity, and human dignity in later life. As such, it has the potential to serve as a model for regional replication, particularly in Southeast European contexts facing similar demographic pressures.
By bridging education, mental health, and employment, the University for the Third Age situates Albania within a European policy continuum—one that does not treat aging as decline, but as a domain for renewed civic and intellectual engagement. It is a timely intervention, and a symbol of the country’s evolving social contract in the context of EU integration.
Written by our correspondent A.T.
