A Paradigm Shift: From Technical Knowledge to Strategic Skills
The Coursera report highlights that generative AI skills have become a prerequisite for most jobs today. Jeff Maggioncalda, CEO of Coursera, states: “Proficiency in generative AI is, for the most part, a foundational skill like a second language or mathematical ability.” In this context, UMT has created an ecosystem that teaches cutting-edge technological skills and helps students develop strategic competencies, such as decision-making, communication, and creative problem-solving. UMT aims to prepare professionals who can leverage the most advanced technologies while combining them with critical thinking skills through its unique programs, such as its degrees in Information Technology, Engineering, and Artificial Intelligence. This combination is precisely what organizations are seeking today: individuals who can navigate technological complexity while maintaining a strategic focus on adapting to change.University Metropolitan Tirana: A Center of Excellence for AI and Technology
UMT is the first institution in Albania to establish a clear focus on the intersection of advanced technology and the practical needs of the labor market. UMT offers not only in-depth study programs on Artificial Intelligence and Data Science but also laboratories equipped with the latest technologies, enabling students to experiment and innovate. Through personalized teaching approaches and market-driven projects, UMT is cultivating a new generation of professionals who not only understand technology but use it to solve complex business and societal challenges.
Some of UMT’s most notable projects include:
- Advanced PhD programs in Artificial Intelligence, with topics in AI & Energy, AI Robot Motion Planning, Machine Learning, or applications in medicine and medical imaging.
- Collaboration with key sectors of the economy, such as tourism and agriculture, to apply AI technology in concrete solutions.
- Organization of international activities, such as Digital Valley Albania (DiVA), aimed at creating a sustainable ecosystem for innovation and technology in the region.
- AI-Robotics, also known as RoboTech, an annual national competition on robotics involving high school students.
Preparing for the Job Market
According to the Coursera report, over 70% of global leaders in technology and business state they prefer to hire individuals with in-depth knowledge of generative AI, even if they have less professional experience. University Metropolitan Tirana has anticipated this trend and designed its curriculum to ensure students are prepared for this new reality.
At the same time, UMT places special emphasis on developing human skills such as critical thinking, communication, and interdisciplinary collaboration—skills that have become indispensable in an AI-dominated world. This integrated approach ensures that UMT graduates are leaders of digital transformation in any sector they operate in.
A Special Focus on Gender Equality in Technology
Another area where University Metropolitan Tirana excels is its commitment to addressing gender inequality in technology. At a time when only 28% of AI course enrollments are from women, UMT has launched concrete initiatives to encourage more women and girls to pursue studies in technology and science. Through scholarships, mentoring, and promotional activities, the university aims to create an inclusive environment that empowers women to be part of this technological transformation.
Building the Future Today
As organizations and the global job market transition from experimenting with AI to strategically applying it, University Metropolitan Tirana remains at the forefront of this change. Through an integrated approach that combines technological and human skills, UMT not only prepares students for today’s job market but equips them with the tools and knowledge to lead tomorrow.
If the world of tomorrow is shaped by Artificial Intelligence, its leaders will be those preparing today at Metropolitan University of Tirana.
