42 Tirana: Adding a New Dimension to the Educational Ecosystem in Albania!

"Since opening its doors in May 2025, 42 Tirana has become a symbol of Albania’s digital future. Housed within the transformed Pyramid of Tirana, the campus turns a historic monument into a vibrant hub for learning, creativity, and technology. Explore how this unique space is breaking traditional educational boundaries and fostering a new generation of tech talent in the heart of the city."
42 Tirana Cluster

42 Tirana opened in May 2025, and is located inside the Pyramid of Tirana public monument transformed into an open space for learning, creativity, and technology. It is already redefining what tech education looks like in Albania.

With the Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF), the Municipality of Tirana, and the Pyramid Center as founding sponsors, 42 Tirana was born from a simple belief: young people in Albania deserve a different space to grow, where everyone can fully be themselves.

The campus captured attention from the very beginning. Inaugurated in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and 42 founder Xavier Niel. The campus immediately showed its ambition: empowering students to discover what they are capable of, regardless of background. Tirana is not competing with traditional schools, but rather adding a new dimension to the learning ecosystem in Albania.

The campus hosts 150 workstations and can accommodate up to 450 students. This first year alone, nearly 400 participants experienced the immersion of the Piscine. “Growth is not only about numbers,” says Donjeta Sahatçiu, head of 42 Tirana. “It’s about preserving the quality, community, and intensity that define the 42 experience.” Next year, the campus plans four Piscines. Testament to the campus’ rocket start, 42 Tirana’s 2026 Spring sessions are already almost full! Applications for the Autumn sessions are set to open soon.

Piscines at 42 Tirana are unique not only because of the space (the Pyramid mentioned above is surrounded by start-ups, an innovation center, and tech events) but because of the people. Students form fast, intense, and supportive connections. Women are strongly represented, often outnumbering men. And the learning environment is alive, dynamic, and deeply connected to the city itself, which mirrors the campus spirit: constantly reinventing, welcoming, and full of opportunity.

42 Tirana’s 1st cohort.

Even though 42 Tirana is still a young campus, having only just had its first Kick-off in October, different companies are already lining up to build partnerships with it. From local banks to tech firms, all the way to startups. Many different corporate partners are already collaborating with the campus on hackathons, learning sprints, and real-world project challenges. Students gain firsthand experience solving meaningful problems, while companies meet learners who are curious, resilient, and ready to grow. The campus is also increasingly attracting interest from global companies exploring hiring pipelines for the coming quarters, which proves Albania’s rapidly expanding demand for tech talent.

“Our focus is deepening partnerships, expanding advanced learning paths, and supporting students beyond the Common Core. Access remains a priority, we aim to open the doors of tech to those who wouldn’t otherwise get this chance.” — Donjeta Sahatçiu, head of 42 Tirana.

Moving forward, 42 Tirana is committed to nurturing talent, fostering industry connections, and keeping its model honest, community-driven, and empowering for all students who pass through its doors.