This project is a part of the collaboration between the Swedish-Albanian Association in Mariestad and the Albanian Centre of Excellence in Tirana. The project is a preliminary feasibility study for an improved irrigation system in the mountain village Lubonja, Korça Region, Albania. When the Albanian communism regime fell in 1990, the infrastructure degenerated and the irrigation systems where almost destroyed. Various organizations, like the World Bank, have assisted with the restoring of the systems, especially in the mountain areas. Today, the most of the systems is in functional condition. The village of Lubonja is located in South-Eastern part of Albania. The village is a part of the Korça Region and is located 27 km from the town Korça. The fields have an altitude that varies from 930 to 870 meters above sea level and have a total approximate size of 490 hectares. Lubonja has a population of almost 560 inhabitants and the prime livelihood is farming. Today, each family is self sufficient and cultivate many kinds of crops on their fields. There are two main streams in the region; the Lubonja River and a river from the Rehova mine area. Lubonja River comes from the mountains and flows through the village, where grey water and black water is added. The other stream is mixed with the polluted water from the old copper mine. There is also a reservoir on the hill side of the mountain which is for irrigation use only. To calculate the needed amount of water, a small field survey has been performed. The different parts in the survey are; soil type, water quality, evaporation and climate data. The results of the field survey were compiled, with assistance of Dr. Kovaçi, Institute of Land in Tirana. It resulted in the irrigation period and the needed amount of water during the irrigation season in Lubonja. The needed amount of water varies from 1250 m3/ha to 4300 m3/ha depending on the crop and the period when irrigation is necessary is from the middle of May to the end of September. The proposed design of the system is a combination of restoring the old canals in the area, where the system was sufficient and installing a pipe system in the area, where the old system was insufficient. The idea is to irrigate the area with the water which is now wasted from the reservoir due to leaking valves and shallow streams. To eliminate the waste of water, a pipe will lead the water from the outlet of the reservoir to a switch where there is a y-crossing. After the switch one pipe goes to the main canal and the other leads the water to area where the pipe system is implemented. The pipe system will prepare for a usage of modern technology like drip irrigation and sprinklers. Each farmer will be able to choose how to use the water by connecting hoses to taps. Due to the high position of the reservoir the pressure in the pipes will be sufficient without using a pump. The calculations for the system are divided into two parts. The first part is the canals, where an appropriate cross section and the needed amount of concrete are calculated. The amount of concrete for the canals is approximately 200 m3. The second part is the pipe system, where the pressure and velocity in the pipes and valves are calculated to be certain that a pump will not be needed and to get proper dimensions of the pipes. The maximum pressure is 1 471 500 Pa, the total outflow when all taps are open is 0.07m3/s and maximum velocity when tap 25 is open is 24.0 m/s. It is important that a system like this is being implemented in close collaboration with the villagers.

Lo studio e la ricerca svolti, affrontano il tema delle trasformazioni che investono, nei contesti migratori, le rappresentazioni e i modelli relativi all'identità femminile, in particolare nel passaggio dalla prima alla seconda generazione, allo scopo di indagare sia rispetto a uno snodo strategico per il processo di integrazione della componente straniera, ma anche al fine di prendere in esame l'evolversi della nostra società, dal punto di vista della produzione di inedite identità. Questo lavoro si articola in due sezioni: una teorica, in cui si approfondiscono l'evolversi del concetto di identità nella tradizione culturale occidentale, fino all'attuale post-modernità, in rapporto alla dimensione culturale e all'appartenenza di genere, in particolare considerando l'agenzia di socializzazione della famiglia e il periodo dell'età adolescenziale e una empirica, in cui sono riportati i principali esiti di una ricerca qualitativa svolta nel corso degli anni 2005-2006, intervistando i componenti di 8 famiglie albanesi presenti in Italia, di cui facesse parte almeno una figlia adolescente. Ne è emerso un quadro composito dove la comunità albanese, presente ormai da diversi decenni nel nostro paese, tuttavia ancora particolarmente stigmatizzata, mostra, attraverso le speranze delle sue seconde generazioni femminili e la capacità di tenuta delle loro famiglie, creative costruzioni di identità ibride, nonché originali possibilità di integrazione. / The present study and analysis examine the transformations in the representations and the models of the female identity occurring in migratory contexts, particularly focusing on those from the first to the second generation. The aim of this research is both to study the strategic step for the integration process of the foreigner and the evolution of our society from the point of view of the birth of new identities. The study develops into two sections. A theoretic one that deeply goes into the analysis of the development of the identity concept from west cultural tradition until post-modernity. This approach takes into account the cultural dimension and the gender belonging, especially considering the family and the adolescence. The second part - empirical - summarizes the results of a qualitative research carried out between 2005 and 2006 interviewing the members of eight Albanian families living in Italy, composed of at least one adolescent daughter. The results show that the Albanian community, that despite living in our country for some decades now is still stigmatized, through the hopes of its second female generation and the "seal capacity" of the family, is able to creatively build hybrid identities, as well as original possibilities of integration.

Questa tesi studia la possibilità di costruire diversi indicatori di benessere socio-economico della famiglia, indicatori che possano tenere conto delle dimensioni del rischio e dell'incertezza. Indicatori che, in qualche modo, catturino la capacità di far fronte ad un eventuale shock negativo. La costruzione di indicatori basati sulla proprietà di beni durevoli è applicata al contesto albanese. / This thesis aims at investigating the different possibilities of measuring indicators of socio-economic status at the household's level. These indicators should be able to take account of the dimensions of uncertainty and risk, thus catching the ability of people of coping with negative economic shocks. The construction of such indicators asset-based is focused on the Albanian context.

Tourism industry is one of the most prominent industries at the moment. Globalization has been playing a big role by mainly diminishing traveling barriers between countries. This trend had brought also an increase in competition between countries to identify themselves and to define how they want to be perceived by the tourists. In this case, developing a clear destination brand identity is crucial for success. Brand identity and brand image are two concepts that are related to each other but their meanings are different. There are several studies from the demand side concerning with destination brand image. Conversely, there is a lack of studies conducted in destination brand identity by considering the supplier side. Thus,the main purpose of this study is to investigate the brand identity creation from the supplier side. A conceptual model of “Strategic Brand Analysis in Destination Identity Context” was developed from the reviewed literature. This model guided the empirical investigation of regulators, academicians, civil society and business enterprises in Albanian identity context. In order to collect diverse perspectives, ten qualitative interviews from different fields were conducted. By conduction of interviews and qualitative content analysis with the support of “QSR NVivo 7” software, the strategic brand analysis of destination identity in Albanian context was examined. Additionally, presented theories about brand identity and collected empirical data were analyzed together. Based on this analysis, revised model was recommended for the “Strategic Brand Analysis in Destination Identity Context”. The results suggested that a comprehensive analysis including “Stakeholders Analysis” and “TourismCompetition Analysis” is required as the initial phase of destination identity formation. Each part of analysis has combining aspects, which need to be considered. This study contributes to the literature on brand identity and personality. In addition, the study also has implications for policy-makers of tourism destinations and managers of tourism companies. While the theoretical findings can be regarded as an exploration in the literature,this study fulfilled first research concerning destination brand identity of Albania in tourism.

On the eve of the twentieth century, the dismembering of old empires brought the formation of many new nation states, therefore of emerging new capitals. Becoming independent in 1912, Albania chose its definitive capital, Tirana, in 1920. Since then, the city has been a showcase of planning and architectural interventions for various regimes that have come in power, and its centre was and still is seen as a possibility to show the political ideals of each. The aim of this study is to examine how this important part of the city was produced, used and transformed in a timespan starting from 1920 until the fall of the People&#039 / s Socialist Republic in 1991. The spatial analysis of the city&#039 / s centre and the description of the relations between the main actors of these processes will help us understand the underlying goals for which these representative spaces were designed. On the other hand, comparing its urban elements with those of several coetaneous capitals will locate Tirana among the important planning examples of the time.

<p>This project is a part of the collaboration between the Swedish-Albanian Association in Mariestad and the Albanian Centre of Excellence in Tirana. The project is a preliminary feasibility study for an improved irrigation system in the mountain village Lubonja, Korça Region, Albania.</p><p>When the Albanian communism regime fell in 1990, the infrastructure degenerated and the irrigation systems where almost destroyed. Various organizations, like the World Bank, have assisted with the restoring of the systems, especially in the mountain areas. Today, the most of the systems is in functional condition.</p><p>The village of Lubonja is located in South-Eastern part of Albania. The village is a part of the Korça Region and is located 27 km from the town Korça. The fields have an altitude that varies from 930 to 870 meters above sea level and have a total approximate size of 490 hectares. Lubonja has a population of almost 560 inhabitants and the prime livelihood is farming. Today, each family is self sufficient and cultivate many kinds of crops on their fields.</p><p>There are two main streams in the region; the Lubonja River and a river from the Rehova mine area. Lubonja River comes from the mountains and flows through the village, where grey water and black water is added. The other stream is mixed with the polluted water from the old copper mine. There is also a reservoir on the hill side of the mountain which is for irrigation use only.</p><p>To calculate the needed amount of water, a small field survey has been performed. The different parts in the survey are; soil type, water quality, evaporation and climate data. The results of the field survey were compiled, with assistance of Dr. Kovaçi, Institute of Land in Tirana. It resulted in the irrigation period and the needed amount of water during the irrigation season in Lubonja. The needed amount of water varies from 1250 m3/ha to 4300 m3/ha depending on the crop and the period when irrigation is necessary is from the middle of May to the end of September.</p><p>The proposed design of the system is a combination of restoring the old canals in the area, where the system was sufficient and installing a pipe system in the area, where the old system was insufficient. The idea is to irrigate the area with the water which is now wasted from the reservoir due to leaking valves and shallow streams. To eliminate the waste of water, a pipe will lead the water from the outlet of the reservoir to a switch where there is a y-crossing. After the switch one pipe goes to the main canal and the other leads the water to area where the pipe system is implemented.</p><p>The pipe system will prepare for a usage of modern technology like drip irrigation and sprinklers. Each farmer will be able to choose how to use the water by connecting hoses to taps. Due to the high position of the reservoir the pressure in the pipes will be sufficient without using a pump.</p><p>The calculations for the system are divided into two parts. The first part is the canals, where an appropriate cross section and the needed amount of concrete are calculated. The amount of concrete for the canals is approximately 200 m3. The second part is the pipe system, where the pressure and velocity in the pipes and valves are calculated to be certain that a pump will not be needed and to get proper dimensions of the pipes. The maximum pressure is 1 471 500 Pa, the total outflow when all taps are open is 0.07m3/s and maximum velocity when tap 25 is open is 24.0 m/s.</p><p>It is important that a system like this is being implemented in close collaboration with the villagers.</p>

<p>The Balkans has suffered from quite a few problems as a result of the countless ambitious endeavors for great states of the ethnic groups residing in the Peninsula. The most recent great state idea to have caused troubles in the region is the Serbs’ Great Serbia (i.e. Yugoslvia), which caused a cycle of wars, the latest one being the war in Kosovo in the late 1990s. This thesis attempts to evaluate the rumors of yet another great state in the making – or rather awakening again: the attempt at a Greater Albania, and whether the Albanians in the Balkans are still harboring the idea of any such state. Particular emphasis is placed upon the following questions:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Where does the idea of a Greater Albania stem from?</li><li>Is a Greater Albania today still on the Albanians’ agenda as a real political plan?</li><li>What speaks for and against a Greater Albania? Is the idea even feasible?</li></ul><p> </p><p>The findings indicate that none of the Albanian communities residing in the Balkan region wish for a Greater Albania, nor do their leaders. The Serbs nonetheless maintain that an Albanian threat exists and has done so ever since 1878 when the idea of a Greater Albania first arose. However, according to the results of this study, their claims lack credibility. Everything indicates that today, and with Albania striving for membership in the European Union, the idea of a Greater Albania has been left in the past.</p>

This report is an ethnographic exploration of othering and belonging in Albania . In the past twenty years there has been a significant amount of scholarship addressing the construction of difference and collective identity in the Balkans. Much of that research has focused on processes of Orientalism, historical analyses ethnic conflict, and nationalism. The work presented here has been shaped by these discussions but is also an attempt to further deconstruct identity and nationalism vis-à-vis the ethnographic examination of belonging. Specifically, this paper addresses my positionality in the field and the ways that this positionality allows for a particular inquiry of belonging. In this report I address how my identification as a Black American female shapes my day-to-day interactions with Albanian informants, and how these encounters can be used to probe representations of what I term “Albanianess”. In doing so, I reveal the ways in which the ethnographic encounter allows for an interrogation of meaning, public intimacy, difference, and local attachments to identity. / text

Thesis (M.A.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Religious Education, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p.140-148).

Thesis (M.S.)--Miami University, Dept. of Geology, 2004. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 126-129).