The Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF) in partnership with the Municipality of Tirana, early in October 2020 gave life to TUMO Tirana, a new kind of educational center at the intersection of arts and technology for teens aged 12 – 18 years old. At TUMO, students find a hands-on learning approach, a unique learning path based on their interests while developing their skills in eight different fields: Animation; Graphic Design; Game Development; Filmmaking; Programming; 3D Modeling; Music, and Robotics. Learning is independent, delivered through a platform in English, allowing students to create their personalized learning plan as they are assisted by experienced coaches. Students also attend workshops, led by workshop leaders who are industry pros in Albania and abroad. They are given the tools and knowledge to better prepare for the digital world, as they chart their own learning path through hands-on activities, workshops, and projects.
The establishment of TUMO Tirana stems from an initiative of AADF’s education strategy. The goal is to improve the quality of education in Albania and to enable youth to acquire the 21st-century skills needed for the evolving job market.
What was the challenge?
Trends in technology are moving towards robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence. The challenge is whether the teens in Albania are prepared to embrace these new global trends.? How can we all keep up in a world where change is constant? The traditional education system seems to be obsolete for the demand of the 21st century.TUMO wants to grow a generation competent for future jobs, and encourage other schools to reinvent their curriculums, and include more effective learning environments to promote the development of digital literacy skills. That is precisely the gap that TUMO is filling - offering a learning center where technology and art merge to provide teens a competitive edge in the digital world. TUMO Tirana enables Albanian youth to gain the set of skills that are imperative for success and allows them to broaden their horizon in the technological sector.
What is the solution?
TUMO is an experimental place where the idea is not just to teach classes but to make students feel comfortable and build a very strong foundation for their future careers. They prepare to become competitive candidates for fast-growing industries at a global scale, expand horizons and develop their mentalities towards a civic and professional value system that is based on merit, communication, teamwork, initiative, trust, and self-confidence.
TUMO is currently situated at the Air Albania Stadium (Arena Center), and the center occupies roughly 1,242 sqm of space on the 3rd floor. Since when the center opened, more than 700 students are now attending these innovative learning sessions. Students have at their disposal common study areas, workshop rooms, and learning labs equipped with the latest technology. There’s also a state-of-the-art music studio where more advanced students can put their skills and creativity to the test when creating original projects and gaining exposure to professional-level equipment and software.
TUMO’s staff consists of 11 Workshop Leaders and 10 Learning Coaches that assist and guide students every day in their journey at TUMO.
TUMO represents one of the most innovative educational models with centers in Yerevan, Paris, Beirut, Berlin, Moscow and now a brand-new center in Tirana, located in the Arena Center, until its permanent home in the Pyramid of Tirana.
MVRDV, a renowned Dutch architectural studio, will revitalize and transform the space into a multi-functional center for technology, culture, and art. The new design of the Pyramid incorporates an open plaza with public spaces, including a library. And there will be units that startups can hire, especially those that are complementary to the Tumo program. The pyramid will function as a not-for-profit center and will be dedicated to arts, media, visual arts, and the ICT (Information and communications technology) community.