University level educational policy in economic crisis : Observations and interpretations by Albanian immigrant university students

Our study looks at Albanian university students in Greece reacting to the aftermath of the recent higher education reform after the removal of official and unofficial immigrant student support systems. A research, interviews and questionnaires were conducted in order to bring to light general tendencies and special issues.

More specifically, we describe economic crisis dictated measures taken by universities and their impact on immigrant students as perceived by them. Specific measures: a. Teaching personnel reduction ,b. Scientific paper distribution reduction, c. Library financing reduction, and d. special benefit reductions, against the backdrop  of prevailing  economic circumstances that recast higher education operational cost management and reconsiders   the investment return value  of education in terms of future professional accomplishment and its expected socioeconomic concomitant of high status.

We note the sample students’ interpretation of the step by step defoliation of the substitution of  even an imperfect educational provider by a cost minded redesigned and operationally restructured educational model. The rising  rate of their successful access to higher education in  connection with the overall  Albanian family upper mobility and professional placement in the host country is juxtaposed with the phase of instability that undermines at present their very  status as immigrants.  As University serves as a minimal educator spring board to further basic training of the lower strata to be channeled to a lifelong ever variable market determined educational process, immigrant students stand out as destined to exclusion on account of their immigrant identity, in addition to being excluded in terms of class along with the rest of socially and economically downtrodden humanity.  

 The point in question is the silent contribution to vertical social discrimination in times of economic crisis that legitimates the political system and further limits the already limited  educational privileges accorded to immigrants within the framework or civil  rights.