Wisdom University College has closed. The decision was taken at today’s meeting of the Council of Ministers, where it is emphasized that this institution has the legal obligation to return the payments made by each student for the unfinished part of the relevant study programs, for cases where the payments were made per study cycle, as well as any other unfulfilled obligation that may be owed to the student.

“In support of article 100 of the Constitution and letter “l”, point 2, article 7, of law no. 80/2015, “On higher education and scientific research in higher education institutions in the Republic of Albania” , with the proposal of the Minister of Education and Sports, Council of Ministers

DECIDED:

The closure of the activity of the university college “Wisdom”, which has exercised its activity in the city of Tirana.

“Wisdom” University College has the following obligations:

a) Close all obligations related to academic and research-scientific activity, for the academic year 2023-2024, until its completion, in all study programs offered;

b) To prepare the file for every student who has not completed the relevant study program, with all the necessary documentation that will serve for his transfer to another institution of higher education, which meets the legal criteria for the transfer of studies and make it available to the student himself, without any additional financial obligation on his part, within 30 (thirty) days from the entry into force of this decision;

c) To return the payments made by each student for the unfinished part of the relevant study programs, for the cases where the payments were made per study cycle, as well as any other unfulfilled obligations that may be owed to the student;

ç) To submit the legal, administrative, financial and academic documentation that he has and on the basis of which he has developed his academic and research-scientific activity to the responsible structures, in accordance with the legal framework for archives, within 2 (two) months from the entry in force of this decision;

d) To place at the disposal of the Ministry of Education and Sports any required information until the fulfillment of all the requirements provided for in this decision.

dh) To make available the necessary academic and administrative personnel until the end of the process for its closure, according to the deadlines defined in this decision.

4.The seal of the university college “Wisdom” is destroyed according to the procedures provided in the legal framework in force.

5.All expenses for carrying out the procedures for the closure of the “Wisdom” university college, pursuant to this decision, are borne by the non-public institution of higher education/the legal entity that represents it.

6.Institutions of higher education accept until 20.11.2024 applications for the transfer of students of the “Wisdom” university college, for the academic year 2024-2025, to the same or similar study programs, when they meet the legal criteria.

7.The Ministry of Education and Sports, the National Business Center, the General Directorate of Archives, the Center for Educational Services, the Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education and the university college “Wisdom”/the legal entity “Wisdom”, sh.p.k., are charged with the implementation of this decision”, says the VKM published on the official website of the Council of Ministers.

The administrators of the private college “Wisdom” in Tirana and 7 other people have been arrested by the Italian police. They are accused of having sold fake diplomas and certificates in Italy, after earlier trying to bribe senior education leaders in Albania.

The investigations of the Guardia di Finanzia have revealed that the couple Savino Cianci and Lucia Catalano have bribed the president of the Accreditation Council in Albania, Shqiponja Telhaj with a bag worth 1150 euros, even trying to enter the Ministry of Education with expensive gifts.

But Telhaj himself says that he does not know the Italian couple, and for him the mention in the Wisdom file is all slander.

Documents from the Italian prosecutor’s office prove that the private university printed fake diplomas, in exchange for payments ranging from 6 thousand euros in the profile of the hotel industry, 9 thousand euros in law and 19 thousand euros in the sciences of education.