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.

E-le.G.A.N.T.S. aims to establish new skills, concerning technological knowledge, training tools, knowledge sharing, networking, performing art and the ability to translate them into job opportunities, in the HEIs of three Western Balkan's targeted at developing a new digital readiness and at changing the relationship between curricula, skills, and performing events in a distant perspective digital dimension. The specific objectives of the project concern the role of higher education institutions in the partner countries for economic and social development and their specific capacities to link the academic world of culture and art, research activities to the labour market and civil society. The project focuses on three key aspects:1. Develop digital readiness in partners’ HEIs restructuring training models and contents. 2. To prepare HEI student in in ALB, MNE, and KOSOVO in order to enhance in a more effective way their (self) employability and the capacity to access the Creative Economy.3. Develop skills to tackle future employment perspectives and build international aggregated answer through a digital transformation, that, by definition, is borderless and asks to work globally The main output that project is committed to produce are: •Online trained course and implemented toolkit•Set up an LMS (MOOC) Platform and produced Learning objects•Organized StartCupThe project has a flexible approach in order to adapt the learning outcomes to the particular needs and digital skills of the participating learners, and will be structured in a way that allows them to improve their skills in a practical and concrete way, gaining a broader understanding and exchanging best practices and experiences. The students are the first beneficiaries of the project together with the teachers and other educational staff that will have the opportunity to integrate digital tools into their teaching.

The project aims at building the capacities of higher education institutions in Western Balkans countries, in order to help them offer curricula aligned with the needs of the labour market and society. The objective of the project is the development and the implementation of a new Joint MSc programme on “Sustainable Food Production Systems” (STEPS), which will be linked with the national - and regional - priorities of the countries involved.The scope of the preparatory tasks is to analyse the needs of stakeholders, the structure and the content of relevant MSc programmes at national, European and international level, and identify and analyse “best practices” on the links of education with the world of work, national strategies and rural societies. The objective is to meet stakeholders’ needs through the development of scientific background and competencies of graduates. The STEPS programme will be a blend of courses on engineering, management, economic and social sciences, structured according to the Bologna convention. Courses will be designed and developed based on modern educational methodologies and ICT tools. Seminars will be organised for transferring and exchanging knowledge between peers, aiming at improving the quality of education offered by HEIs and also, their capacity to innovate and increase their participation in European and international projects. The joint degree programme will be applied for accreditation in the national authorities and agencies. The programme will be delivered, monitored and evaluated, based on standards and guidelines of the European Higher Education Area. A dissemination campaign will focus on raising the awareness of project results and exploitation tasks will be devoted to ensure their sustainability after the project lifetime. Coherent management with transparent processes and responsibilities clear decision-making and conflict resolution procedures will ensure the successive implementation of the project.

Universities in Kosovo face similar challenges in terms of research activity. They all face low capacity to undertake quality scientific research, as well as they lack the institutional structures and certain policies to support research activity on a constant basis. Project expected results:- An assessment report published in outlining research situation in Kosovo.- Seven (7) research offices will be established, one per each university partner (except UP which already established it). - Respective universities will nominate at least one research coordinator per each research office.- Seven (7) strategic plans developed, one per each university (except UP who has already established it).- Establishment of six (6) scientific journals, one per a research priority in Kosovo.- Establishment of six (6) interinstitutional Scientific Committees, one per each scientific journal.- Establishment and update of a register of reviewers (international reviewers, also local reviewers with established international scientific reputation).- Establishing an inter-institutional Organizational Committee for the Annual Scientific Conference;- Organization of at least one conference during project life in six scientific sessions, with participation of around 200 researchers, from which 100 who present research work;- Minimum 60 papers fulfilling standards selected for publication into the scientific journals.- Policy/regulation on research ethics and integrity adapted in each beneficiary university (eight policies/regulations).- At least eight (8) Research Ethics Committees established and made functional, one per each beneficiary institution (respective universities may establish such committees at faculty levels).- An online open access database developed and launched;- Around 100 researchers, minimum 10 researchers per beneficiary partner will be trained on preparation research articles by meeting criteria of internationally indexed journals.

“Creating Theory to Practice Centres for Innovation and Employment” project aimed to improve the relevance of higher education for the labour market and society in Kosovo through creating sustainable models of interaction between universities and enterprises. It responded to the Erasmus + objective in the Capacity Building in the field of Higher Education that strives ‘to improve the quality of higher education and enhance its relevance for the labour market and society’, since it assumes the establishment of Theory to Practice Centres (T2Ps) as sustainable models of fostered cooperation between universities and enterprises and exchange of experience and good practices with HEI from Programme countries. Six Theory to Practice Centers were established, which were also united into European Association of Theory to Practice Centers-T2P Europe, to ensure further sustainability of the project. While using a new teaching methodology (case studies), the T2Ps will continue to serve not only as advice centres, but will act as hubs for three disciplines and three sectors (education, business, public sector). The new established centres already brought together more than 150 local teaching staff from six partner institutions in Kosovo engaged in peer learning activities, 83 individual mobilities were realised, more than 500 students benefiting from updated courses and lifelong education studies and more than 340 researchers and business professionals at the conferences. The project will benefit to 20,000 persons engaged in higher education and economy in Kosovo and abroad (through its professional dissemination). This project will contribute to resolving the problem of identified skills mismatches in the long run, through modernization of higher education in Kosovo, its improved cooperation with the private and public sector and introduction of recognized lifelong learning outcomes as a base for flexible career paths. It is the first endeavor of this size and the impact to the whole territory of Kosovo, embracing its ethnic, cultural and language diversity as strengths in the project design.