(20 April, 2017) Albania has conferred an honorary degree to Matteo Mandalà, professor of Albanian Language and Literature at the University of Palermo. The ceremony was attended by the Italian Ambassador to Tirana, Alberto Cutillo and other representatives of the Italian Cultural Institute of Tirana. Mandalà was awarded this prestigious award for being “an estimated Albanologist, historian, and Arbëreshe and Albanian literature scholar from the origins until contemporary times; a linguist and editor of Albanian texts from different literary periods; an intellectual with a vast spectrum of research interests; a research who has made original contributions in Albanology; illustrious representative of Albanian scientific thought in the current academic and university world”. (red)

CEREMONY

The award ceremony took place in the Aula Magna of the rectorate of the University of Tirana during a session with the Academic Senate in the presence of a large representation of docents and students. In his lecture, Professor Matteo Mandalà focused on Italian Albanology, highlighting the role of Albanian Language and Literature of the University of Palermo – the second in all of Italy after Naples.