In a world where education is often seen as a mere formality toward obtaining a diploma, there are educators who represent something greater, mentors, leaders, and visionaries. One of them is Professor Roland Subashi, Ph.D. currently Head of the Department of Management Sciences at University Metropolitan Tirana, who brings a rare combination of hands-on experience in the banking and public sectors, a passion for teaching, and a clear vision for the future of education in economics and management.
His professional journey began in Malaysia, where he completed his university studies in a program heavily influenced by the Anglo-Saxon model. After graduation, he worked for an American import-export company, where he began shaping his understanding of business and international management. Later, his path led him to Albania, where he held positions in some of the country’s most important financial institutions.
“I’ve worked in four major banks in Albania, in various roles, starting as a credit officer, then branch manager, compliance, and risk management. I also served on the management board of a bank,” he explains. “At one point, I decided to enter public administration, and for six years, I was director of a department at the Ministry of Finance.”
At each stage, the experience brought him practical knowledge, but also a conviction that the insights he had gained needed to be shared.
The Call of Academia: From practice to knowledge sharing
Since 2008, Dr. Subashi began his involvement with the university as a part-time lecturer, bringing with him invaluable real-world experience. “It wasn’t really planned that I’d become head of department,” he says modestly. “But over time, I felt there was more to contribute. And since I have a passion for organizing and refining things, perhaps it was a natural progression.”
In the classroom, he brings a unique teaching style, grounded not only in theory but also in concrete examples. “I try to offer lots of case studies. To connect theory with practice, for instance, explaining how marketing really works in an Albanian company, or how an organizational structure develops under real conditions.”
Management as a gateway to broad and transferable skills
As Head of the Department of Management Sciences, Dr. Subashi sees these studies as a broad and flexible foundation for any young person who wants to build a successful career, at home or abroad. “Management is a mine of values. It doesn’t follow just one path. In the second year, students start to understand where they are headed, whether in marketing, human resource management, or accounting,” he explains.
“If in the past people thought ‘Management isn’t a difficult major,’ today the reality is different. Our students have tremendous potential, and our job is to help them realize the value of what they are studying.”
He believes that this education doesn’t just produce professionals, but also responsible citizens and critical thinkers. “In the end, I want a management student to graduate with two essential skills: the ability to think in a structured way, and the ability to communicate, with themselves and with others.”
Inspiration, not just information
In his classes, there is rarely a lack of personal reflection. He is not just a lecturer, but a storyteller who helps students understand themselves. “I don’t want to just inform. I want to inspire. I always tell them: ‘Yes, it’s not easy. Yes, there is competition. Yes, opportunities are limited. But you have one thing in your control: yourself.’”
For young people considering this path, he offers an honest yet motivating piece of advice:
“If you want to live a life of integrity, with financial and intellectual independence, if you want a career that has meaning, then Management is an excellent choice. But don’t expect someone else to build it for you. You have to be the architect of it.”
In his role as department head, Professor Roland is working to make the program more open and connected to the labor market. “We often bring in external lecturers professionals from the fields of management, marketing, finance. We invite them to share their experiences with students. This creates a real connection with what awaits them after graduation.”
He hopes that year after year, the program will further strengthen its practical and international components. “If we can increase partnerships with universities abroad and offer academic exchanges and internships outside Albania, then we will truly be at the level we deserve.”
“Much more than a Diploma”
For Dr. Roland Subashi, the role of the university is not just to award a degree but to shape thoughtful citizens, responsible professionals, and the leaders of tomorrow. With experience spanning the private sector, public administration, and academia, he embodies what every student seeks: a mentor who understands them, challenges them, and inspires them.
