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.

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.

The CRED4TEACH project responds to the needs of higher education institutions and educational decision makers in countries Albania, Montenegro and Ukraine towards providing high-quality, responsive, inclusive, flexible and competence-based training provisions to in-service teachers across the educational sectors. The project’s solution is to establish the MOOC-based micro-credentials for enhancing the opportunities for teacher professional development in target countries. The project objectives are:- to boost staff skills for the development and delivery of MOOC-based Micro-credentials;- to develop and introduce national and institutional frameworks for the delivery, issuing and recognition of Micro-credentials,- to create, deliver and validate 11 pilot MOOC-based Micro-credentials,- to encourage the wider adoption of Micro-credentials for professional development of teachers and other target groups.Target groups: in-service teachers from secondary schools, VET and HEI sectors.Expected results:-46 teaching and research staff members upskilled to micro-credentials and MOOC-designers;-11 MOOC-based Micro-credentials in UA, ALB, MNE, each between 4-6 ECTS, delivered to at least 220 pilot teachers; -3 national and 8 institutional frameworks on the provision and recognition of micro-credentials for teachers;-3 national blueprints on adoption of micro-credentialing.To achieve the project objectives, CRED4TEACH will strengthen institutional capacities for the provision of MOOC-based micro-credentials through providing trainings by partners from program countries, create national and institutional guidelines for offering of micro-credentials, design, deliver and validate 11 MOOC-based micro-credentials, and promote the achieved results through a large-scale dissemination campaign. The project results will be reflected in the scope of 3 blueprints providing recommendations to educational decision makers towards a national-wide adoption of micro-credentials.

Project aims to enhance marine fishery industry in Albania through several tasks: 1) development of new professional master degree in marine fishery that will meet market needs, 2) enhancement of collaboration among Blue Growth stakeholders by developing networking platform, and 3) improvement of maritime training centres which provide professional trainings to seafarers operating on fishing vessels.The new curriculum in marine fishery will be developed through collaboration of scientific experts and marine industry stakeholders. Curriculum will provide students with theoretical knowledge and practical skills that are required by the labour market needs, which will have a positive impact on employability of students and matching of the labour market demand.Furthermore, the new curriculum will offer more practice oriented opportunities, contributing to university-enterprise cooperation, opening door to new research opportunities and knowledge exchange among industry stakeholders and academics. The creation of the networking platform that will unite all stakeholders active in marine fishery field, education institutions, graduated students, private companies and organizations, will further contribute to that since it will provide the stakeholders with opportunities for new partnerships, exchange know-how, access to up-to-date market information, qualified staff and/or employment opportunities.Improving the maritime training centre for professional seafarers operating on fishing vessels allows us to penetrate and shape the marine fishery industry from another angle which is the field of exploitation and fishing. Currently training centres are not in accordance with IMO standards and the requirements of EU legislation. Developing new courses for professional seafarers would have positive impact on environment protection, decrease in safety hazards, at the same time improving fishing and exploitation efficiency and international collaboration opportunities.

MEP&M project proposal aims toward solving multiple issues. First, coastal zone and marine environment protection is one of Montenegrin and Albanian (PC) Governments priorities. Also, this field is one of priorities toward EU accession process for all WBCs. Lack of adequate number of professionals in governmental institutions and blue economy sector companies dealing with issues in this area should be overcome through enhanced education and research at PC HEIs. Secondly, strengthening international competitiveness within EHEA and ERA are the main driving forces for PC HEIs. Thus, project’s activities will deliver next main results: developed and accredited innovative regional joint interdisciplinary MSc program (120 ECTS, 2-year duration) in field of Maritime Environmental Protection and Management (MEP&M) in English language at PC HEIs; enhanced human capacities in field of MEP&M and e-learning methodology through tailored trainings at PC HEIs; enhanced technical capacities of PC HEIs through installed new e-learning platform; increased networking among PC HEIs, governmental institutions, Blue economy sector companies and NGOs in order to act regionally to prevent and cope with consequences of global climate change and local/regional marine pollution.The project will have positive impact on strengthening human capacities in field of MEP&M at PCs, and wider, and increasing international competitiveness and visibility of the PC HEIs, as a result of the developed and started MSc program in MEP&M in English and enhanced human and technical capacities.