Scandal with fake diplomas, the government closes the university college 'Wisdom'

The government has decided to close Wisdom University College.

The decision was taken at today's meeting of the Council of Ministers, where it is emphasized that this institution has the legal obligation to return the payments made by each student for the unfinished part of the relevant study programs, for cases where the payments were made per study cycle, as well as any other unfulfilled obligation that may be owed to the student.

Decision: 
"In support of article 100 of the Constitution and letter "l", point 2, article 7, of law no. 80/2015, "On higher education and scientific research in higher education institutions in the Republic of Albania", with the proposal of the Minister of Education and Sports, Council of Ministers

V E N D O S I:

The closure of the activity of the university college "Wisdom", which has exercised its activity in the city of Tirana.
"Wisdom" University College has the following obligations:
a) To close all obligations related to academic and research-scientific activity, for the academic year 2023-2024, until its completion, in all study programs offered;
b) To prepare the file for every student who has not completed the relevant study program, with all the necessary documentation that will serve for his transfer to another institution of higher education, which meets the legal criteria for the transfer of studies and make it available to the student himself, without any additional financial obligation on his part, within 30 (thirty) days from the entry into force of this decision;
c) To return the payments made by each student for the unfinished part of the relevant study programs, for the cases where the payments were made per study cycle, as well as any other unfulfilled obligations that may be owed to the student;
ç) To submit the legal, administrative, financial and academic documentation that he has and on the basis of which he has developed his academic and research-scientific activity to the responsible structures, in accordance with the legal framework for archives, within 2 (two) months from the entry in force of this decision;
d) To place at the disposal of the Ministry of Education and Sports any required information until the fulfillment of all the requirements provided for in this decision.
dh) To make available the necessary academic and administrative personnel until the end of the process for its closure, according to the deadlines defined in this decision.
The seal of the university college "Wisdom" is destroyed according to the procedures provided in the legal framework in force.
All expenses for carrying out the procedures for the closure of the "Wisdom" university college, pursuant to this decision, are borne by the non-public institution of higher education/the legal entity that represents it.
Institutions of higher education accept until 20.11.2024 applications for the transfer of students of the "Wisdom" university college, for the academic year 2024-2025, to the same or similar study programs, when they meet the legal criteria.
The Ministry of Education and Sports, the National Business Center, the General Directorate of Archives, the Center for Educational Services, the Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education and the university college "Wisdom"/the legal entity "Wisdom", sh.pk, are charged with the implementation of this decision", says the VKM published on the official website of the Council of Ministers.
The administrators of the private college "Wisdom" in Tirana and 7 other people have been arrested by the Italian police. They are accused of having sold fake diplomas and certificates in Italy, after earlier trying to bribe senior education leaders in Albania.

SCANDAL

The Italian Guardia Di Finanza has discovered that from Tirana, Cyprus and Britain, thousands of fake diplomas were sold to Italian citizens at values ​​of 7,000-10,000 euros for each one.

According to the media there, part of the scheme is also an official of the institutions in Albania, which has favored the owners of Wisdom College, Savino Cianci and Lucia Catalano.

In the file it is said that this official was given a "Louis Vuitton" bag that cost 1150-1200 euros.

The gift was delivered to him during a dinner, while the whole situation takes place in August 2022.

At the head of this scheme is the couple Savino Cianci and Lucia Catalano, both administrators of the university.

Taking advantage of the connections they had in Albania and Italy, they took over the direction of the University with the promise that they would transform it into a teaching center for all students of excellence in the Balkans.

On social networks, Nino Cianci has posted photos from his life in Albania, where there is no shortage of meetings with officials, professors and a busy university agenda.

Meanwhile, referring to the data from the file, Cianci and Catalano have taken care that on the occasion of Christmas (December 25) the leaders of the Ministry of Education prepare and deliver gifts, mentioning the name of Evis Kushi.

"Lucia Catalano and Savino Cianci are doing their best to prepare and deliver gifts for the Christmas holidays to: Pietrangeli (ambassador), Lucia Cuçiarelli and Carlo Intaschini, Evis Kushi...", states other honors in the documents published by the Italian media.