Considering Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s will to access the EU, and the existing gaps with the EU aquis, the main aim of our project is to develop innovative post-graduate and Master’s degree education programmes in veterinary public health and food safety for the first time in English, to bring these countries closer to EU standards in matter of education and public health. The specific objectives are to improve: i) the quality of higher education through innovative teaching/learning techniques and establishing English courses; ii) the knowledge and skills in disciplines relevant to public health, veterinary medicine and animal production, reducing the discrepancy between training and work market demands; iii) the international relationships as well as the networks among institutions, agencies and universities; iv) the digital transformation. The innovative didactical activities provided are Teach the Teacher method, b-learning (multimedia classroom upgrade), summer schools, e-platform creation, and international weeks. The beneficiary for the project will be 28 university lecturers and 24 students from the 4 partner country universities, university lectures’ colleagues, future students, the 4 university communities, and, indirectly, the stakeholders and citizens of the involved countries. The expected results will be: the creation of the post-graduate school and a Master, the digital modernization of the universities and their international activity improvement, the enhancement of the teaching activity quality, the creation of new modules or curricula on veterinary public health and food safety, the training of a critical mass of experts with up to dating knowledge, and skills and the improvement of the citizens and legislators’ awareness in these fields. All project outcomes will contribute to bring Western Balkan area closer to EU public health standards and will empower universities as key actors of change in green and digital transition.

Since 2013, Albania is going through a process of structural reforms on several areas. The reform on territory administration (Law 115/2014) reduced the number of the local units to 64 municipalities. Both rural and urban areas constitute now these new larger and more complex territorial units. The local administration has a limited knowledge on sustainable territory administration of both rural and urban areas and their interactions. Secondly Albania is moving forward on its process of joining the EU. Implementation of the acquis communautaire, requests necessary reforms for Albanian government on national as well as local institutions. Thirdly the reform on higher education and scientific research of 2015 (Law Nr 80/ 2015), created a new type of third cycle degree Master called Executive Master which adapts even more the teaching offer with the job market needs. The main objective of the project is to address new job market needs induced by new and forthcoming Albanian public policies by collectively designing 9 teaching modules on sustainable territory administration, agricultural policy and negotiation, as well as innovation on rural areas.The project tends to improve the classical way of curricula building by proposing adapted teaching modules build up by building blocks that will serve to several teaching level (i.e. professional master, Master of science and executive master). This will increase the possibilities of collaboration among HEI-s (public and non-public) that want to build up master degrees dealing on the same issues without being competitorsThe project is focused on a strong relation with the job providing institutions and the importance of the practical work that will be projected, conducted and evaluated jointly with actors of the sector. The project will capitalize the practical and theoretical findings of their own students and lecturers by using them as theoretical and case studies in master teaching modules.

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.

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.

The partnership addresses the important demand of both countries – Albania and Kosovo - for: (1) an improvement of practical skills of graduates of bachelor studies, (2) an early integration of students in the agricultural business practice, (3) the need for developing Lifelong Learning and technology transfer functions of the universities for enterprises and stakeholders in agriculture, livestock and food safety sectors.DualAFS aims for better employability of graduates, knowledge and innovation capacity in agriculture and livestock sciences and improved competitiveness of the agriculture and food business to gain better income in the future. Long term, the aim is to bring prosperity in the remote and rural regions of AL and RKS.DualAFS develops the students’ and other beneficiaries’ knowledge in agriculture, livestock and animal-source product (food) quality and safety. DualAFS internationalizes the education in agriculture, fosters innovations and builds solid bridges and pathways between the stakeholders on different levels. DualAFS also improves the openness of higher education through innovative digital educational materials and supporting the availability of education. To contribute to this, DualAFS will1. develop two innovative model Bachelor curricula, integrating practice accessibility and interactive digital e-learning tools and materials: - Dual BA curricula on Animal Husbandry and Animal-source Food Safety at AUT; - Dual BA curricula on Agribusiness at UoK;2. rise the working life relevance of education by intensified practical training and co-creation of dual study programs with non-university partners from agribusiness, animal production and food safety;3. develop Lifelong Learning capacities and offers in HEIs departments;4. develop E-learning tools for knowledge transfer.