Epoka University academic staff Dr. Albina Hysaj and PhD(c). Egla Mansi successfully led the first day of activities of the Winter School on Sustainable Tourism, organized within the framework of the READ Project – Research Expertise from the Academic Diaspora. The initiative brings together academic expertise, international best practices, and applied sustainability solutions to address pressing challenges in Albania’s tourism sector.

The opening workshop, titled “Sustainable Tourism Infrastructure: From European Best Practices to Circular Water Solutions,” was coordinated by Dr. Albina Hysaj and PhD(c). Egla Mansi from the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences at Epoka University. The session focused on strengthening academic and policy-relevant understanding of sustainable tourism infrastructure models, with particular attention to their applicability in the Albanian context.

The academic content of the workshop was further enriched by the contribution of diaspora academic expert Dr. Eriona Canga, who led a dedicated session under the READ Project. Her intervention provided a critical bridge between European policy experiences and local implementation challenges, offering participants valuable insights into how sustainability frameworks adopted across Europe can be adapted to Albania’s institutional, environmental, and economic realities. Her contribution directly supported the READ Project’s core objective of strengthening knowledge transfer between the Albanian academic community and the academic diaspora.

Throughout the session, participants engaged in interactive discussions on how sustainable infrastructure investments can support local communities, enhance service quality, and reduce environmental footprints, especially in coastal, rural, and heritage-rich areas of Albania. Case examples and comparative insights highlighted pathways for aligning national tourism development with EU sustainability standards and long-term regional resilience goals.

The Winter School is hosted at Epoka University and is supported by the Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF) through the READ Project. The initiative reflects Epoka University’s continued commitment to applied research, policy-relevant education, and international academic collaboration in the fields of sustainability, regional development, and responsible tourism.

Further sessions of the Winter School will continue to explore sustainable tourism from economic, environmental, and governance perspectives, reinforcing the role of academic expertise in shaping evidence-based development strategies for Albania.