PERFORM NCU Albania hosted a workshop focused on “Facilitating Connectivity between the Science Diaspora and the Albanian National Science System – Main Factors for an Enabling Environment”. Two renown researchers from Switzerland, Dr. Gabriela Tejada from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), and Dr. Bashkim Iseni, Executive Director of Albinfo.ch, the main speakers of the workshop, were joined by PERFORM NCU Albania staff, staff of SDC-funded and Helvetas-implemented, RISI Albania, representatives of Albanian institutions, and researchers engaged in projects focusing on the scientific diaspora.
Dr. Tejada focused her presentation on the key factors that contribute to an attractive and enabling environment for the collaborations between science diaspora and home community: results from research and experience in different countries. While, Dr. Iseni introduced the participants to the experience with operating albinfo.ch. What are the factors that facilitate collaboration between diaspora and home community, and how can both benefit mutually?
During the workshop was emphasized that countries of origin should use their diaspora’s competences and promote connectivity as a main tool to use such competences. Mapping of the diaspora is an important first step in designing approaches that successfully engage such communities.
