On May 30, 1957, the State University of Tirana was established by decision of the Council of Ministers at the time.

During the meeting on this date, the government appointed Zija Këlliçi as the rector of the University of Tirana, Kolë Paparistos as the vice-rector for scientific affairs, and Hasan Duma as the vice-rector for educational affairs. This decision would take effect on June 1 and would transfer personnel, material, and financial resources to the University of Tirana.

According to the draft decree, the University of Tirana would consist of the following six faculties:

Faculty of History and Philology;
Faculty of Law;
Faculty of Economics;
Faculty of Engineering;
Faculty of Natural Sciences;
Faculty of Medicine.
The initial beginnings of establishing this first institution of higher education in Albania can be traced back to 1946, when the two-year Higher Pedagogical Institute was opened, and in 1947, when the Institute of Sciences was established. During the years 1946-1956, six higher institutes operated in Tirana: the Pedagogical Institute, the Polytechnic Institute, the Medical Institute, the Agricultural Institute, the Economic Institute, and the Law Institute.

In the academic year 1957-1958, the university had 3,613 students. Students would graduate in 15 specialties. In 1967, the university took its complete form with the construction of its first campus, giving it greater dynamism. Thus, after 20 years since its establishment, in 1977, the number of full-time students reached 8,880; of which about half were female. It should be emphasized that during these early years, 21,368 students graduated who later engaged in the country’s most challenging sectors of life.

/k.s/