TIRANA, Feb. 8 – The Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) climbed up the 2016 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report ranking from 23rd to 22nd place among top think tanks in Central and Eastern Europe.
The report, launched by the Lauder Institute of the University of Pennsylvania, places AIIS among the best think tanks in the world and the only Albanian think tank to consistently make the list.
“AIIS consistently performs well in this very important global index thanks to our consolidated reputation in the region and beyond as well as our excellence in research and projects in the field of security, foreign policy and international relations studies and activities in Albania,” Dr. Albert Rakipi, the AIIS executive director, has previously told Tirana Times.
In the global ranking of Think Tanks in 2017, AIIS also climbed up 79th in the ranking for Defense and Security Research area globally and 83rd in the ranking for Foreign Policy and International Relations — globally.
More than 3,500 experts from academia, civil society and decision making institutions participated in the process of nominating and then ranking institutions worldwide in this one of a kind exercise that has become a reference point for those who seek to understand the standing of think tanks whether by geographical or thematic classification.
Recognizing the quality of research and advocacy of the AIIS and collecting the positive feedback from peers, the Index acknowledges for the fourth year in a row the professionalism and impact of AIIS work.
The ranking is organized on a yearly basis by Think Tanks and Civil Society Programs at the University of Pennsylvania, which conducts research on the role policy institutes play in governments and civil societies around the world.
AIIS is committed to continue keeping high standards in its work, the think tank has previously told Tirana Times, with which it has a long-standing partnership.
AIIS is currently implementing long term strategic projects that relate to the European future of Albania: AIIS has established the Joint Centre for Albania-Serbia relations to assist normalization of bilateral relations; completed influential research on the phenomenon of radicalism and foreign fighters in Albania and continued with its communication initiatives for Albania’s integration process. Their work in 2018 will yield positive next steps in all the relevant fields.
