The aim is to provide practical solutions to help close the gap between industry needs/expectations and educational system outputs, by creating a STE(A)M education master programme. The later will train in-service and future educators at all levels of education to implement STEAM-related courses in the target countries. Innovative learning material and services will be also developed offering educators a multidisciplinary perspective and participating universities the chance to exchange best practises, modernize, renew and align their curricula towards multidisciplinary skills and competencies necessary for rapidly changing job markets.In this context, the consortium will transfer significant know how from the European Educational System that will be used by the partner country Institutions to design an advanced MSc Curriculum for STE(A)M education. The absence of such a degree makes the need for its design and introduction pressing and the consortium envisages that this effort will spearhead similar endeavors in other Western Balkan countries. The Master’s Programme combines the diversity of expertise of leading European Universities and offers education oriented to a multidisciplinary understanding through the involvement of experts from complementary fields.The aim of this MSc programme is to enhance future and in-service educators, in order to:• develop a broad theoretical base reflecting current cutting edge research in STE(A)M education• comprehend and demonstrate specialised knowledge and skills in cross-disciplinary approaches• choose and use appropriate methods for active learning while teaching STE(A)M• design, develop and evaluate curricula and materials for STE(A)M-related courses• equip with the knowledge and skills to solve complex workplace problems and find flexible, intelligent, innovative solutions at the professional level• identify, design and implement effective STE(A)M-related training and development programmes

The proposal EntrAL supports the employability of young graduates through entrepreneurship education. By organizing entrepreneurial courses at different educational levels (pre-university and university levels) and to a large audience (pre-university teachers and university teachers and students), the project aims at a wider impact. The proposal does not only support the entrepreneurial mind-set of highly educated students but also of pre-university teachers, who will encourage the next generation to think outside of the box and be more risk driven. For this reason the project encourages entrepreneurial teaching methods, and nurture entrepreneurial behavior from the students. Teachers are supported by the university structure and mechanisms (LLL, activities for staff); students get from their teachers better support and advice in term of entrepreneurship and skills related to entrepreneurial attitude, supporting their employability after graduation. The project will implement entrepreneurship to the existing U3M-AL and TEAVET centers teacher qualification process lifelong and Third Mission according to the needs of the teachers. It will utilise the established specialized centers of teacher training in accordance with the needs of MESY to increase entrepreneurial mind-set at national level through accredited teacher training in entrepreneurship. The entrepreneurial mind-set at institutional level will be increased through teacher training and entrepreneurship modules using scientific methodologies, pedagogical issues, ethics and ICT use in learning. New expertise and standard of teacher training in entrepreneurship will be established in Albanian universities and schools through organizing seminars in Albanian universities and training visits to European universities.

The need for highly educated professionals with deep understanding in plant health for sustainable agriculture is high at both, program and partner countries. This project has the ambition of harmonizing and modernizing doctoral education in this field and to create a network of researchers that is capable to respond to current challenges in plant health. The specific objectives are: to harmonize, improve and modernize the doctoral study programs in plant health among partner universities in order to increase the competences and skills of PhD candidates to respond to the global plant health issues; to develop a draft of curriculum of International Joint PhD study program in Plant Health; and to foster regional integration in the field of plant health research and education among WBC and between WBC and EU countries. The unique platform for PhD education in plant health issues will be set up among partners. PIs will adapt the best practices related to management and conducting PhD study programs. Scientific content and learning outcomes of different courses will be improved and harmonized. Teachers will be trained in new educational methods and for mentoring of PhD students. Creation of scientific network among scientists, mobility periods and exchange of students and staff, together with establishment of diagnostic and training hubs in PIs will improve human capacities of the candidate countries to adapt EU policy in plant health to develop and to introduce the new non-pesticide methods in agricultural practice and to conduct and/or participate in research in the field of plant health at international level. Proposed activities will allow for the international recognition of the proposed courses and will enable education of young scientists in plant health ready to cooperate and participate in scientific research at regional and international level. The draft of the curriculum will be created and ready to be submitted to accreditation.

The SMART project supports partner HEIs from target countries, Albania, Bosnia&Herzegovina, and Montenegro, to transcend their role as knowledge providers and become active shapers of the regional innovation ecosystem cooperating with various stakeholders. The project aims at targeting the existing gap between HE outcomes and labour market demands by: •Addressing the challenges of HEIs in the field of smart specialisation and the related innovation & entrepreneurship competence development with the introduction of new smart specialisation-related learning modules and innovative teaching approaches into HEIs’ curricula, including online teaching, cross-curricular learning, and virtual mobility. •Supporting the professional development of HEIs academic staff in the field of innovation & entrepreneurship competence development for the requirements of smart specialisation along with hybrid & online teaching practices.•Setting up 7 SMART Innovation Centres at HEIs and integrating them into the existing HEI structure. •Facilitating sustainable cooperation between HEIs and the business sector through the SMART Knowledge Exchange Network.•Encouraging student and staff work placements and (virtual) mobility. During the project, 84 staff will be trained in the project topics, 14 of them will work in the newly established innovation centres along with 21 trained students from partner HEIs. The SMART Knowledge Exchange Network will offer ample opportunities for networking, training & counselling opportunities to multiple stakeholders of the regional innovation ecosystem. In addition, 210 ambassadors of smart specialisation will be trained, and 250+ new stakeholders will be reached through the Network undertakings during the project implementation, while SMART Innovation Centres aim at being fully operational and sustainable also after the project completion by offering counselling&training services in the smart specialisation area, especially to the business sector.

Albania, as Partner Country, aims to improve the quality of its Higher Education system in order to be more responsive to the labour market needs and requirements by strengthening technology transfer and cooperation with businesses. The need is to qualify a service for the Albanian Universities (HEIs) third mission’s activities by space’s availabilities and sharing knowledge in each of the partner universities. The project focuses on modernization of Albanian ‘s Universities technological transfer offices (TTO), youth employment in key sectors of Albania economy (agri-food) through start up and spin off creation, cooperation and networking among universities at local and international level. Overall, the foreseen capacity building actions aim to transfer original and innovative methodologies and knowledge to different target groups: Academic and university administrative staff, students, enterprises, SMEs, mainly in the agro food sector, Public institutions. The project outputs are: 1) co designed guide lines of Albanian TTOs functioning; 2) increase in competences level and skills of Albanian ‘s HEIs TTOs (capacilty building actions); 3) TTOs services implemented by pilot initiatives (learning by doing); 4) TTOs international network creation. The main project result is the increase of innovation and competitiveness level in the Albanian Universities and businesses system and so the increase of Youth employment in agri food sector.The project strategy is based on a new approach for a modern technological transfer system. From traditional linear technology transfer model to a systemic and circular one. that involves all innovation players (from public bodies to research organizations, companies and innovation agencies) The modernized Albanian HEIs TTOs collaboration at national and international level, is the further means through which a stronger ecosystem of innovation is achieved.