This article will show how the 2015 higher education reform in Albania, instead of increasing the autonomy and the quality of teaching and research as it officially aims, is broadening the control of the government over public universities. After discussing the concepts of reform and autonomy, I will analyse the new law to track the transformation it brought to the higher education system, demonstrating that the autonomy and the quality of higher education have not improved. On the contrary, the government has provided new tools to deepen its presence in internal management.