Tirana, Albania – UPF-Albania held its third scientific conference on the family on November 18, 2023, focusing on factors related to the capitalist market economy, democracy, and the technological revolution that affect modern families. The impact of digital technology on family lifestyles was a particular focus.
The conference was organized with the International Association of Academicians for Peace, and held at the Peace Embassy in Tirana. The two sessions were moderated by Prof. Dr. Lekë Sokoli, executive director of the Albanian Institute of Sociology, and Prof. Assoc. Dr. Eva Allushi, former deputy rector of Durrës University.
Congratulatory remarks were given by Dr. Eva Çipi, chairwoman of UPF-Albania and professor at Vlora University, and Mr. Jacques Marion, chairman of UPF-Europe and the Middle East. The conclusions of the conference were presented by Dr. Saemira Pino, chair of IAAP. Also, Serbian professor Dr. Jelena Tanasijevic was named an Ambassador for Peace, a title already held by most of the other panelists.
It was the third such gathering in a series on “Family, Society and Universal Values.” The first event, on November 19, 2022, focused on family issues during the political, economic and social transition of the Balkan countries. The second, on April 15, 2023, discussed the influence of values and traditions in the function, or dysfunction, of the family.
At the three events, 25 researchers, professors and doctors of social sciences presented papers. Six were from Albania, and the others from Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United Kingdom, France, Hungary, Turkey, the United States, Japan and South Korea.
The bilingual (Albanian and English) publication of the papers by UPF-Albania will make them available to researchers, as well as a wide range of interested people. Another outcome of these conferences is the creation of a network of academics, especially from the Balkans, providing opportunities for future collaboration and cooperation.
The speakers at the conference included:
Mr. Gëzim Tushi, sociologist and researcher, Albania
Dr. Jelena Tanasijević, professor of philosophy, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
Dr. Sofija Georgievska, professor of philosophy, UKIM, North Macedonia
Dr. Denis Celcima, dean and professor of psychology, UBT University, Kosovo
Dr. Sarina Bakić, professor of political science, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Mr. Gabor Vasmatics, information technology engineer, Hungary
