This project strives to elevate the capabilities of higher education institutions in Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia. It aims to equip specialists with the skills to implement dynamic interventions that foster inclusion and common values in correctional settings, thereby supporting democracy and the rule of law.This unique partnership, a fusion of public-private initiatives, brings together education, the labor market, enterprises, research hubs, and the learner's perspective. It seeks to redefine higher education institutions as lifelong learning hubs, benefiting not only students but also working professionals. The introduction of two pioneering curricula in correctional pedagogy, a first in the European space, focuses on equipping learners with 'pedagogy-first' interventions. This multidisciplinary approach integrates law, psychology, social sciences, and education, dynamically benefiting children and youth in contact with the law.The project employs three key methodologies for success: DACUM approach workshops engaging employers and the labor market to identify current and foresight competencies; structured public hearings involving civil society, researchers, and public authorities to establish 5 Balkan Research Centres for Correctional Pedagogy joining the “LiberateSkills” Pact for Skills; and peer learning & mentoring between higher education staff from Western Balkan countries and two additional Balkan nations (Romania and Greece). This collaborative effort aims to develop regionally targeted research that is tailored to Balkan contexts, needs, cultures, and socio-political settings.