Planet on which we live has seen better days, and one of the main culprits for its present unfortunate state are human globalisation and civilisation. Relentless use of natural resources in an unsustainable manner has led to pollution, global warming, overpopulation, waste disposal, and loss of biodiversity, to name but a few. The European Union (EU) has set a very ambitious task of making our continent climate neutral by 2050. In order to do that, the EU Commission presented the document titled the European Green Deal. Such an ambitious task can only be carried out if all our societies join forces and knowledge to achieve it. Among other solutions presented in the aforementioned strategy, one of the most conspicuous is education of today´s generations for the world of tomorrow, or “learning for environmental sustainability” (GreenComp:6).GROWTH joins overall efforts towards climate neutrality by tackling the issue of environmental awareness and green transition in the Western Balkans. It gathers 7 partners from the EU and Western Balkans, whereby the core intervention locations are four target higher education institutions (hereinafter: HEIs) from B&H and Montenegro. Interventions are aimed at raising environmental awareness among HEI stakeholders by introducing the concept of green universities and green education methodologies and practices in four partner HEIs in Western Balkans.Project outcomes will benefit four HEIs in B&H and Montenegro, HE students, teaching and non-teaching HE staff, HEIs management, state institutions, institutions of local self-government, and the media by presenting them with environmentally friendly alternatives, waking them up to the dangers of climate changes, and empowering them to act and significantly contribute to a green and bright future by stacking their own pieces of environmental efforts into the mosaic of climate neutrality.

The world leaders of the UN member states in September 2015, unanimously adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (UN 2030 Agenda) in the UN General Assembly. The agenda includes 17 goals, 169 targets and 244 indicators for progress measurement. They are integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental. Particularly important for us is Goal 4: to provide inclusive and quality education for all and to promote lifelong learning.The relevant ministries in EU candidate and in EU neighborhood countries have adopted educational development strategies in recent years, which provide guidance on how to improve teaching by applying ICT in accordance with the Goal 4 of the UN 2030 Agenda. The overall objective of the project is to improve the teaching process at the HEIs in the Region 1 (Kosovo UN Resolution 1244, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina) with a special emphasis on enabling the access to a quality teaching process for students who, for objective reasons, can not attend regular teaching activities at HEIs. The project goal is using of modern ICT technology and pedagogical approaches to promote equity to the students with: a) disability, b) economic obstacles: people with a low standard of living, low income, dependence on social welfare system and c) geographical obstacles: people from remote or rural areas; people living in small islands or in peripheral regions;Expected results of this project are:- implementation of modern distance learning platforms,- creation of e-content for multimedia platforms,- equipping the remote and central office classrooms with modern ICT technology for teaching (smartclassroom),- developing new pedagogical approaches that define the use of ICT in education, - training of teaching and technical staff.The project will impact on the improvement of equity in the teaching process at HEIs in Region 1.

Dangerous goods (DG) are materials that, due to their characteristics, can constitute a risk to people, animals or the environment. The involvement of DG in an accident could lead to fires, explosions and the release of toxic gases, producing serious consequences to human health and the environment. In order to diminish risks, the transport of dangerous goods (TDG) in Europe is subjected to different regulations with the constant raising need for educated and skilled personnel.The main aims and specific objectives of the project are: -To identify key risks of the transport of dangerous goods (TDG) by road in WB partner countries according to different regulations ;-To improve existing and develop new curricula for undergraduate and master studies in accordance with Bologna requirements and national accreditation standards implementing new subjects studying the TDG by road. These subjects should cover both provisions concerning dangerous goods and provisions concerning transport equipment and transport operations. -To establish Training Centers within WB HEIs.The most important results of the project will be the modernization of the existing curricula in the part related to the TDG and the handling of DG at all WB partner institutions. Among other things, the curriculum should increase students' awareness of the dangers that can occur when dangerous goods are transported and handled improperly. Direct beneficiaries of the project include 116 trained teaching staff, 120 enrolled students, 240 trained TDG professionals and the wider community (TDG stakeholders, public institutions, scientific community etc.)Type and number of outputs include 8 new/modernized study programs, 45 newly implemented TDG related courses, 8 new labs.

Advancement in sustainable mobility is addressed in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. To unite engineers and experts from different disciplines (electronic, mechanical, automotive engineering) is key to drive forward. INTEC tackles the lack of multidisciplinary skills and cooperation among stakeholders in the field of sustainable mobility to generate a positive impact on green regional development in Albania (AL) and Montenegro (MN). The implementation of trainings at HEIs consider input & needs from stakeholders and improve cooperation and employability of graduates through more educational efforts by addressing especially real-problem-based learning.A profound needs analysis and the establishment of a training plan, 4 capacity building trainings on topics such as future mobility concepts, alternative powertrain solutions and the use of renewable energy in mobility are implemented. Blended-learning and soft skills for engineers bring special contents and features to this project. For long-term cooperation with stakeholders and steady international knowledge-exchange, the project foresees the establishment of 6 International Engineering Competence Centres (IECCs) at participating HEIs in AL and ME. Joint workshops, the main service offered at IECCs are customized to the needs of the region and future partners and will reach more than 600 persons. INTEC pushes also the exchange of findings and knowledge on engineering for sustainable mobility and strengthens capacity for international collaboration by the realization of 3 international events open to public, while addressing researchers, students, companies and policy makers. International and regional, internal and external experts are going to treat hot topics and stimulate discussion concerning sustainable mobility. This results in different perspectives, presenting new opportunities and pushes forward cooperation among participants which facilitates generating regional impact by 18 joint projects.

During the last decade, many governments have announced new climate change mitigation commitments that include national or regional commitments to reduce their carbon emissions in the 2025-2035 timeframe. The underlying government planning efforts and national actions do tend to be linked with a major transformation in the transport sector toward advanced efficiency technology with a shift to lower-carbon energy sources.Many governments have announced that their original goals will not be met for a variety of reasons, amongst which one of the most important is the lack of skilled and trained personnel with sufficient level of knowledge in this area.This project has as a goal modernization of WB HEIs study programs through introduction of new electric vehicles-related courses at the bachelor and master levels of education in WB HEIs. It will be done through creation of new or modernization of existing study programs at bachelor/master levels and creation of awareness-raising hubs within which EM associations will be created.WB HEIs from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo will opt, depending on their capacities, whether they will introduce new programs or modernize existing, in English or in their native languages. In both cases number of new courses, their titles, ECTS and other characteristics, will be determined in advance.This will include set up of new laboratories which will enable laboratory practices for students, as well as Electric Mobility Popularization Hubs within WB HEIs. Thus, all partners should select equipment which is adequate to the goals of the project.Project will include partners from EU, HEIs from all WB countries, non-academic and associated partners.