The Academy of Albanological Studies started as part of the reconstruction and modernization of the Albanian academical and university system.

The centre was reorganised on 10 March 2008 as a scientific research institute and received the status of the inter-university organ.

Along with the research in the fields of history, archaeology, cultural anthropology, art study, linguistics, literature, etc., part of its work focus is the investigation, evaluation, conservation, and promotion of the material and spiritual inheritance of the Albanian culture, both past and present.

[2] The scientific work on archaeology in Albanian started after World War II, when all the cultural and historical valuable entities were placed under state protection.

In 1976, the section was transformed into the Centre of Archaeological Research (Albanian: Qendra e Kërkimeve Arkeologjike), as part of the Academy of Sciences, with threes scientific sectors: prehistory, Illyrian antiquity, and Middle Ages.

In the field of linguistics, the institute focuses on studying the Albanian dialects, their current status and historical transgression, compilation of scientific grammars, technical terminology dictionaries, study on standard Albanian language, language norms, and language-related culture.

In the field of literature, it focuses on studying the historical development of the Albanian literature, bibliographies on the life and work of its prominent protagonists, compilation of generalizing literary-historical work, and scientific-critical publications on the classics of the Albanian literary tradition.

[4] The archive conserved manuscripts on the old Albanian texts, documentary materials, and monographs on linguistic and literary-historical works, published or not.

It was under the umbrella of the Academy of Sciences and was named Institute of Folkloric Culture (Albanian: Instituti i Kulturës Popullore).

The photothèque conserves over 22,000 photo negatives and dispositives in different media depicting traditional dresses since the start of the 20th century, fragments from work, various ceremonies, folkloric activities, etc.