Tuesday, March 31, 2009

  ASPS 2nd National Course, 20 - 22 March 2009, Shkoder, Albania "Governance, Democracy and Development" was the key topic of the 2nd National Course of the ASPS 2009, which took place during 20 - 22 March 2009 in Shkodra.   The topic of the course was chosen not unintentionally. As the 1st Course sought to enhance the participants' knowledge and skills on political parties - the main actors politically representing the interests of the population politically - the 2nd Course focused on a successive phase of the political process: the transformation of public interest into development policies through a democratic governance process at different levels. In this framework, the course included a series of lectures, workshops and case studies on good governance and public administration, rule of law and democratic lawmaking process, social welfare, as well as national and regional sustainable development. In particular, Albania' sustainable development priorities generated an enriched debate, which will be followed-up in other School activities for 2009.   The sessions were moderated and conducted by Albanian and foreign experts such as: Prof Adrian Civici, Rector of European University of Tirana (EUT), Prof. Shkelqim Cani, Former Governor of the Bank of Albania, Mr Besnik Aliaj, Rector of the POLIS University, Mr Shpend Ahmeti, Executive Director of the Institute of Advanced Studies, Pristina, Ms Kathleen Imholz and Elvana Thaci from the EU Assistance Mission to the Justice System in Albania (EURALIUS).     The School also organized a sudy visit at the Shkodra's City Hall. The School's participants met with deputy-mayor Mr Ahmet Omi, who made a detailed presentation on the administrative organization and functioning of the City Hall as well as local development policies and their implementation in Shkodra's municipality.