A Difficult but Hopeful Announcement from NGU
We would like to share an important update with you from Nehemiah Gateway University’s (NGU’s) rector, Dr. Ulli Arnold.
Dear Members of the Board of Administration,
Through this letter, the Senate of Akademia “Nehemiah Gateway” (NGU), presents to you the reasons for voluntarily closing its activity by the end of the academic year 2024 / 2025.
This decision is made after a thorough analysis of the actual and future situation of the institution as well as its legal, economic, and academic environment within which the Higher Education Institution (HEI) operates. Below are some of the major factors which have led the institution to this decision:
1. Dropping number of students
Albanian Students:
• Location: Nehemiah Gateway University was located outside of the capital city, which has created difficulties in attracting Albanian students who, for different reasons, often prefer to study in HEIs located in Tirana, the capital.
• Linguistic difficulties: Many of our Albanian students needed additional academic support to increase their English proficiency, which is one of the basic conditions to attend lessons at NGU. This factor has also increased operational costs of the academic process and has reduced the number of the students qualified to attend the study programs at NGU.
• Possibilities of studies abroad: Increased financial means for Albanian families permit many students, who are proficient in English, to study abroad. This also contributes to the reduction of the interested potential students.
• Demographic decrease: Population decrease because of aging and migration, in the areas where NGU has been operating, has contributed negatively to the age group that the HEI targets.
International Students:
• Long-lasting process to equivalent the high school diplomas earned outside of Albania, has often brought delays in the admission process of the international students. This factor in addition to the pandemic COVID-19 has caused disruption in the flow of the international students and reduced the opportunity to build a stable basis of international students.
• The legal framework to accept international students outside of EU countries is rather complex and has often worked only due to the maximal engagement of our resources, which were then unavailable for the further development and strengthening of the institution.
2. Financial impossibility of continue the activity
NGU, being an NGO, has subsidized the tuition fees for Albanian and international students. With the dropping number of students on one hand and the increasing operational costs on the other hand, the financial burden has made unaffordable:
• maintaining the number of full-time academic personnel, as required by the current Albanian regulations.
• expenses for the national and international accreditation processes, as well as continued improvements within the institution.
• guaranteeing needed support for international programs.
3. Additional reasons:
• Increased time to gain institutional and program accreditation also impacted the efficiency of the institution.
• Lengthy and complex process of the degree and title recognition for NGU international faculty, also coming from EU and OECD countries, has created financial and organizational difficulties for the institution to meet Albanian legal obligations in a timely manner.
A short resume
It is very difficult for us to have to make this decision to finish our study programs. We have invested not only significant financial and other resources but also much emotional capital for over fifteen years. We wanted to offer international Higher Education programs at the highest level in Albania. To this end, we sought and received international accreditations. In humility, we are convinced that we have become a lighthouse in the Higher Education landscape of Albania.
We are proud that we have been able to contribute to the international perception of Higher Education in Albania.
For the reasons given, we as an NGO financed by donations must unfortunately now end this successful and prestigious commitment.
Sincerely,
Prof. Dr.h.c. Ulli Arnold
Rector of Nehemiah Gateway University
If you have questions about the university, its alumni or our ongoing and future plans to have an impact within the educational sphere in Albania and beyond, please reach out and connect with us. While this particular program has concluded, we continue to concentrate our efforts and years of experience on NG’s mission of helping and empowering people to sustainably shape and determine their lives in dignity and independence. Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We are so grateful for each of you!