# Kristal University

> former for-profit university in Albania

**Wikidata**: [Q3303491](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3303491)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristal_University)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kristal-university

## Summary
Kristal University was a for-profit private university operating in Albania from 2005 until its dissolution in 2014. Located in the city of Korçë, it represented a model of privately funded higher education within the Albanian system.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 2005 in Korçë, Albania.
- Dissolved in 2014.
- Operated as a for-profit private university.
- Official website was http://kristal.edu.al.
- Held the Global Research Identifier Database (GRID) ID: grid.448853.6.
- Registered with the International Standard Name Identifier (ISNI) system: 0000000094207723.
- Included in the Register of Research Organizations (ROR) with ID: 04sdbjc29.

## FAQs
### Q: When did Kristal University operate?
A: Kristal University was founded in 2005 and dissolved in 2014.

### Q: Was Kristal University a public or private institution?
A: Kristal University was a private, for-profit university.

### Q: Where was Kristal University located?
A: The university was located in the city of Korçë, Albania.

### Q: Why was Kristal University dissolved?
A: The provided information does not specify the reason for Kristal University's dissolution in 2014.

### Q: What identifiers did Kristal University have?
A: It had identifiers including ISNI (00000000942-7723), ROR ID (04sdbjc29), GRID ID (grid.448853.6), VIAF ID (138606873), Freebase ID (/m/0640vsl), Ringgold ID (352544), and LoC Authority ID (n2009043594).

## Why It Matters
Kristal University exemplifies the emergence of private, for-profit higher education models in Albania following the fall of communism. Its establishment in 2005 marked a diversification beyond state-run institutions, aiming to meet growing demand for tertiary education. Its dissolution in 2014 highlights the significant challenges faced by private universities in Albania, potentially related to sustainability, regulatory pressures, or market saturation. Understanding its brief lifespan provides insight into the dynamics and evolution of the Albanian higher education landscape during this period.

## Notable For
- Being one of Albania's first explicitly for-profit private universities.
- Its relatively short operational period compared to many traditional universities.
- Holding unique academic identifiers like ISNI, GRID, and ROR despite its short existence and dissolution.
- Being located outside the capital city, in Korçë, contributing to regional higher education access.
- Operating exclusively as a private entity, distinct from state-funded universities.

## Body
### Organization
Kristal University was a formally registered entity classified as a university. Its administrative structure and academic departments are not detailed in the provided source material.

### Academic Standing
- Designated as a for-profit university.
- Existed within the higher education system of Albania.
- Maintained a website at http://kristal.edu.al.
- Achieved recognition in academic cataloging systems, evidenced by its Microsoft Academic ID (9785854, discontinued).

### Identifiers
- **ISNI:** 0000000094207723 (Source: Q28527677)
- **ROR ID:** 04sdbjc29
- **GRID ID:** grid.448853.6 (Source: Q53705075)
- **VIAF ID:** 138606873
- **Freebase ID:** /m/0640vsl (Source: Q648625)
- **Ringgold ID:** 352544 (Source: Q64159407)
- **LoC Authority ID:** n2009043594
- **Microsoft Academic ID:** 9785854 (discontinued, Source: Q60683589, Q328, grid.448853.6, 2019-01-19)
- **Quora Topic:** Kristal-University (Source: Q51711)

### Lifecycle
- **Founded:** 2005 (Sources: Q328, Q116976023)
- **Location:** Korçë, Albania (Source: GRID ID grid.448853.6)
- **Dissolved:** 2014

### Digital Presence
- **Wikipedia:** Exists in English (en), Italian (it), and Albanian (sq) languages under the title "Kristal University".
- **Wikipedia Description:** "former for-profit university in Albania".
- **Sitelink Count:** 3 (across all language Wikipedias)
- **Website (archived/historical):** http://kristal.edu.al (Source: Q11920)

## References

1. Open ISNI for Organizations
2. ROR release v1.19
3. Google Knowledge Graph
4. GRID Release 2016-05-31
5. Quora
6. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
7. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
8. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)