<< Background >>HURBE improves the quality of education in Bosnian organizations by focusing on curriculum development, modernization of HEIs and strengthening the relationship between HEIs and the urban and health environment. It transfers knowledge and skills to future actors of urban transformation, where HEI staff members work on the preparation of future architects, urban planners, and engineers that participate in the design process of protecting and ensuring the health and wellbeing of people in cities.<< Objectives >>1. Analysis and introduction of credit transfer.2. Integrate innovative educational approaches by focusing on decisive content3. Develop new courses (in classroom and online) in the field of Healthy Urban Environment4. Upgrade HEIs facilities (laboratories) to enhance relevance with labour market and society.5. Increase cooperation and exchange between academic staff, students, policymakers and labour market.<< Implementation >>After the needs analysis and HEIs content comparisons, the training activities took place to enhance capacity building processes, focusing on the Healthy Urban Environment field, innovation in teaching, and internationalization tools. Two accredited courses were installed in each Bosnian HEI. Two MOOCs were created, involving academics and experts. Three laboratories were installed, and their activities were linked to the didactic courses and to the external stakeholders.<< Results >>1.Creation of an interdisciplinary national network with competencies and facilities (i.e., 3 functioning laboratories operating in the Healthy Urban Environment field).2.Establishment of 3 groups with tools to sustain the outcomes beyond the funding period (i.e., 2 accredited courses, 2 MOOCs, labs, internships, and upgraded frameworks).3.Enhancemed of link with stakeholders from labour market, public authorities and NGOs through strategies and agreements integrated in project activities.

The development of urban agriculture (UA), sustainable agriculture and green economy in the Western Balkan (WB) region allows to support and strengthen prospects for farming, but also society in general. The BUGI project offers capacity-building for different stakeholder groups, like students, graduates/workforce, businesses, researchers and teachers, but also towards planning and infrastructure domains. The starting point of the project was an analysis of existing business models, preferences and capacities in the agricultural sector in WB countries of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BA), Kosovo (XK), and Montenegro (ME), as well as an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses and needs of WB Higher Education Institutes (HEI). These analyses were used to define a framework for curricula for new master and life-long learning (LLL) study programs in UA in the WB region, teachers training, and infrastructure for curriculum implementation. The WB teaching staff underwent 7 study visits to EU partner HEIs and urban agriculture farms and initiatives gaining needed expertise and fostering an international partnership between EU and WB partners. As part of the master programme some required accompanying activities took place, namely learning guide for teachers, skills and competence evaluation guide, module placement guide and diploma supplement were developed for the master programme. The new curricula were successfully developed, accredited and implemented by WB partners with the help and support of EU partners. Univ. of Sarajevo (UNSA) and Univ. of Mostar (UNMO) started with master programme implementation in 2019, and Univ. Donja Gorica (UDG) and Univ. of Pristine (UP) (for UP and Univ. of Peja (UHZ) students) in 2021. Since the new curricula utilise ICT tools and competency-based learning methodology and foster collaboration with the entrepreneurial sector through project-based work, teachers attended two workshops on Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and Experiential Learning (EL) in competence-based learning and Distance Learning (DL). The new teaching material for master and LLL courses was developed in local languages and English. WB partners signed a multilateral interinstitutional agreement to foster cooperation on common ECTS design and for the virtual and physical exchange of students and/or staff in the context of the master study programme in UA. Two XK partners signed an agreement on cooperation in the implementation of the study master programme UA and LLL training programme. Special attention was given to collaboration with further stakeholders in order to promote sustainable development and a green economy in the region. It resulted in starting a green entrepreneurship e-portal and android application under the BUGI umbrella - a platform where producers (farmers) meet consumers and vice-versa. LLL modules for BA and ME partners were delivered with the support of the Sarajevo Economic Region Development Agency (SERDA), while UHZ implemented the LLL programme for XK partners. WB HEIs visibility and capacity to deliver more attractive education and training have been increased in line with program countries practices and experiences. The project resulted in the implementation of new state-of-the-art teaching/learning environments accompanied with appropriate transferable competencies and entrepreneurial skills and partnership with the business sector aiming for strengthening students’ employability and possibility for self-employment. It also promotes cross-cultural experience and increases partners HEIs capacity to answer changes in societal needs, sustainable agriculture and green economy.

"The internationalization of higher education is not regarded as a goal in itself anymore, but as a mean to improve the quality of education and increase the relevance of HEIs within the society at large. Notably, for higher education institutions from developing countries, internationalization brings significant benefits in terms of the improvement of the academic effectiveness, through the mutual exchange and experience of different practices in teaching and learning. Moreover, it fosters the development of human capacities through international collaboration, and students obtain intercultural competences by being exposed to an international setting.Internationalization of HEIs in the Balkan region has been primarily achieved through student and staff mobility as well as Erasmus + CBHE projects that involved a limited number of staff. HEIs have realized that trying to approach to internationalization through these initiatives leaves room for fragmented and individualistic results which prevents internationalization to be embedded within the institutional structures. In this vein, ""internationalization at home” (IaH) is vital as it refers to the policies and processes that purposefully integrate international and intercultural aspects into the curricular and co-curricular activities for students. By leveraging on the potentialities of information and communication technologies, this project aims at removing the financial and formal barriers that prevent internationalisation to reach a wide number of students and staff. The process to integrate learning material and teaching approaches, and the technical solutions that will be devised, will allow promoting a framework that can be re-used in other contexts, thus providing an additional tool for effective internationalisation in higher education."

"Sustainability achievement and development of climate-adaptive capacity account for fundamental conditions of progress of society, therefore these two interrelated concepts need to be studied concurrently. With the harmonization of national legislation with European framework, sustainable development becomes important issue in Western Balkans countries. However, the education sector - one of the main pillars of society to-date didn't follow established European path. WB university programmes related to sustainability are rare and focused just on energy aspect; specialized programmes which would include comprehensive education on sustainability and resilience of built environments do not exist. The lack of knowledge leaves significant and permanent damage in the environment, contributes to the increment of ecological, social and economic risks, and represents aggravating factor for inclusion in European dimensions of education and labor. Environmental protection in engineering branches, architecture and construction refers to the design, development, analysis and implementation of wide range of appropriate technical-technological solutions, measures and practices. KLABS intends to modernize higher education provision in WB by developing new specializing study programmes and new professional profile prepared for coping with, managing and shaping of ""conditions characterized by change, uncertainty, risk and complexity"" (Sterling, 2012). Problem intricacy requires interdisciplinary approach. Responsibility of engineers and architects in achieving sustainability and resilience of built environments is very significant, therefore new programmes will not make impact just on involved institutions, but as well on wide environment. In the long term, KLABS will impact the overall development of WB countries by delivering new generation of professionals capable of dealing with current recognized challenges."