Sports Research Institute

The director directs and controls all teaching, research and administrative activities of the Sports Research Institute.

Arben Kaçurri was born in Shkodra on September 10, 1968. He completed his 8-year and secondary education in his hometown. He is married and has a child. Arben started his higher studies at ILKF Vojo Kushi in 1988 and finished them in 1991. In the years 1988-1992, he is a speed athlete in the athletics team at the Sports Club “Student”.
After completing his higher studies in 1991 and graduating as a “Physical Education Teacher”, in December 1991 he began working as an assistant lecturer at the Higher Institute of Physical Education “Vojo Kushi”, at the Departments of Theory and Methodology of Physical Education and Sports, in the Course of Theory and Methodology of Physical Education and Statistical Knowledge of Informatics. In 1994 he received the title “Lecturer”, in 1996 he received the degree “Doctor of Science”, and in 2015 he received the title “Associate Professor”. From 1994 to 2000 he was a lecturer of the course “Theory and Methodology of Physical Education” and “Theory of Human Movement”, at the Department of Theory and Methodology of Physical Education and Sports. During this time he also performed the functions of the Head of the Organizing Section of Physical Education and Sports in the years 1994 – 1997, and the Head of the Section of Physical Education and Sports 1998 – 2000, at the Department of Vocational Education Sciences.
In 1998 and 1999 Arben completed his postgraduate studies at the University of Cologne and Saarbuken in Germany, where he specialized in the fields of “motor behavior” and “research in sports science”. Also, from 1997 – 1999, he is the Coordinator for the Higher Institute of Physical Education and Sports “Vojo Kushi” in Tempus JEP Project – 11096, “Restructuring of the Teacher Training System in Albania”. EU Partner: Uni. of Bristol, Uni. of North of London and Royal Pedagogical Institute of Denmark; PC: Uni. Tirana, Uni. Shkodra, Uni. Elbasan, Uni. Korça, Uni. Gjirokastra.
From 1998 to 2000, he was a member of the International Council for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dancing (ICHPER-SD) – Comparative PE & Sport Commission. In September 2000 he was appointed Director of the Albanian Olympic Academy at the Albanian National Olympic Committee. From 2000 – 2003 full time, and from 2004 – 2009, part time. During the performance of this function, among others, he realizes two national projects, “Mobile Academy” and “Olympic School Education Package”, projects dedicated to the integration and implementation of Olympic Education in the curricula of pre-university education in Albania. He also completed postgraduate studies in the field of Olympism, and after successfully completing the qualification course of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), won the title of “National Course Director” with the right to organize courses at the national level for the “Administration Program” in Sports ”, where he is also a member of the program design team and the management of these courses.
Starting from 1995 – 2009 he is a research associate of the Institute of Pedagogical Studies, a period in which he is engaged as a co-author in the drafting of National Physical Education Programs, as well as Standards of Achievement and Content for pre-university education curricula. In the years 2006 – 2008, he completed the studies of the European Master “Physical Activity and Health”. Study program developed by IUSM Rome in cooperation with Uni. Vienna, Uni. South Denmark Odense, Uni. Cologne, United. Oslo and Uni. National Kapodistrias of Athens. From 2007 to 2013, Arben is a member of the presidency of the “executive committee” of the Albanian Swimming Federation.
From November 2006 onwards he is the Responsible Lecturer of the Modules: “Basics of Kinesiology / Motor Behavior” and “Theory and Methodology of Scientific Research”, as well as the author of the course syllabi “Motor Development”; “Motor Control”; “Motor Learning”; “Theory and Methodology of Scientific Research”; “Quantitative Research”; “Qualitative Research”, for both cycles of Studies, Bachelor and Master. Arben is also a co-author in the drafting of the Scientific Research Module for Doctoral Programs for both faculties: FSHL 2011, and FVFR 2012.
In the years 2007 – 2008, he was appointed Director of the Foreign Relations Office of the Academy of Physical Education and Sports “Vojo Kushi”. In February 2008 – 2013 he was elected Deputy. Rector of AEFS “Vojo Kushi” / UST. In the period 2008 – 2012, he is the Coordinator of the Working Group, AEFS / UST, for the Design of New Curricula in the Cycles of Bachelor, Professional Master and Scientific Master for both Faculties, FSHL – FVFR, in accordance with the Law on Education High, no. 9741, dt. 21.05.2007, amended, Standards (AEHESIS). Also, Arben has been Co-coordinator of the project: “Bolalba” Tempus – JEP, 40087 – 2005, “Sports Science Curriculum in Albania & the Bologna Process” – Reform of the Academy of EF and Sports “Vojo Kushi”, Tirana, in “Bologna Process” Framework Towards University level.EU Partner: IUSM Rome, Uni. Vienna, Uni. South Denmark Odense and Uni. NK of Athens. Regional Coordinator for the “Balkansport” Project Tempus 144683 – Tempus – 2008 – It – JPCR, “Harmonization of Sports Science Curricula in the Balkans in European Perspectives”, EU Partner: IUSM Roma, Uni. Vienna, Uni. South Denmark Odense, Uni. Norwegian Sports Oslo and Uni. NK Athens.PC: Uni. Sports Tirana, Uni. Prishtina, Kosovo and Uni. State University of Tetova, FYROM. In the years 2012 – 2013 he is the Leader of the Albanian Group and Responsible for the interpretation of the project data; Project No. K-14-2012, “Lifestyle, Fitness & Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Children and Adolescents”. Research cooperation between Austria, Kosovo & the Western Balkans Region. In 2013 – 2016, he is a contact person in the assistance phase, later a member of “Core Team” forUST and WP4 in “SPEED” Tempus Project 544362 – TEMPUS – 1 – 2013 – 1 – IT – TEMPUS – JPCR “Profession of Sports – Education, Employment, and Developments in the Balkan Region ”. EU Partners: IUSM Rome, Uni. of Vienna, Uni. of South Denmark, Norwegian Sports Uni. and Uni. of Athens. PC: Sports Uni. of Tirana, Uni. of Prishtina – Kosova, Uni. of Belgrade, Uni. of Novi Sad & Uni. of Nis – Serbia. In 2013 – 2015, Deputy is re-elected. Rector for the teaching side of UST. In 2016, he was elected Director of the Sports Science Research Institute at UST.
Prof.As.Dr. Arben Kaçurri, also, from 1991 onwards is the author of university textbooks, professional textbooks and manuals, leader of scientific master thesis at home and abroad, participant in the design and development of various postgraduate courses for the qualification of physical education specialists and sports, speaker and publisher in many congresses, conferences, symposia and seminars, as well as national and international scientific journals, as well as guest professor in the Doctoral program at the National University of Physical Education and Sports Bucharest – Romania.