Companies operating in the atuomotive and mechanical engineering (AE) industry always need to be up-to-date to be competitive. All partners from Thailand (TH), Indonesia (ID) and Malaysia( MY) face one big challenge which inhibits them from further growing in the AE industry: the lack of highly educated engineers focusing on AE. ID, MY and TH are highly important for the global production of cars. However, in comparison very little is done in the area of development and advancement of technological innovation, hands-on trainings and HEI-business cooperation.As there is a lack of human capacities (well-educated professionals), UNITED will close the current lack of skilled labour in AE to increase the positive impact on AE on regional development and internationalization of the AE industry. The installation and operation of the engineering knowledge transfer units (EKTUs) and increased knowledge on AE, higher standards in teaching, innovative teaching methods and through the HEI-business cooperation higher employability of graduates will be created.The EKTUs offer vocational trainings to upgrade skill on AE to industry professionals done by academic staff and student assistant trainers. Selected well trained student assistant trainers will work in the EKTUs in the frame of project based courses. Through the EKTUs the following aims can be reached:•to spread the knowledge of AE at HEIs and to industry professionals to increase regional development in AE•to increase the employability of students due to upgraded knowledge To expand generated knowledge a network for AE will be established. It´s promoted through cross-border conferences and strategically planned dissemination activities. Uni-business cooperation will be increased nationally & internationallyThis leads to 3 advantages:• increased employability of students in AE due to trainings of EKTUs• strengthen cooperation HEI-business through EKTUs • increased teaching standards through capacity trainings