THE RELATION BETWEEN COMPETITION AND HIGHER EDUCATION. LEGAL FRAMEWORK OF AN ALBANIAN CASE

At present, Albania faces a reality in which education as a public interest is provided by both public as well as private institutions. The liberalisation of access in higher education has resulted in public and/or private institutions which provide the same service – education, compete with each other in trying to attract the same customer – the student. Competition is considered as a key instrument that has produced a diversity/variety of higher education institutions and with more choices to the student. This research is aimed at analysing the relation existing between competition and higher education as well as its impact on higher education in Albania. In this analysis we have addressed four important issues: 1. Liberalisation of higher education and the impact of competition 2. Competition law in education 3. The mechanism of free competition - the market of students 4. Using competition to promote reform in higher education This study is based on the interpretation of the domestic legislation, analysis of policy documents and articles, as well as interviews with 10 key persons and 20 students. This research helps understanding the role competition plays in the higher education sector, which has resulted in a tangible reform being undertaken by the public and private HEI themselves. This reform is based on the adaptation of competition rules with the purpose of achieving provision of a qualitative service – standards based education.