Armenia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan have shared a common historical background. Since their independence in the 90s, agriculture has undergone a period of transformation. The social, economic and political changes have had an impact on the entire higher education system.TOPAS aims at filling the gap within a common former soviet inherited agricultural sciences higher education system in these countries and practical training in real working environment to provide a better match between job market needs and the qualifications offered. The vocationally oriented practical programs should be introduced and improved based on learning outcomes and competencies approach with flexible learning pathways and permeability among the different agrarian management programs. Within the program partnership between universities and stakeholders (farm industry and associations) will be fostered.A wide-range of activities will facilitate the transition from teacher centered knowledge-based form of education to student-centered practice based education in Agrarian studies and hence employability by enhancing the cooperation between universities and agriculture enterprises through adequate internship schemes with government support to recognize formal and informal learning and endorse ECQIP.Another innovative aspect of the project is the creation of a databank for applied sciences on the field of agriculture management for teaching purposes in the field of data collection of students, teachers and researchers. This databank will consist of data on production inputs, costs and outputs of major cash crops of these countries and will offer valid data for agricultural management study courses.The experience of the last decade showed, that missing practical orientation and knowledge of BA and MA students is one of the most important obstacles for professional qualification. While curricula development was well adapted in many fields, the cooperation with farms and industry has to be built up

The project objective is to strengthen the research capacity of NUBiP team and create a networking platform for best practices about agroecological intensification to uplift the scientific excellence and translational skills of NUBiP team. The specific objectives are : O1. Enhance research skills for stimulation of scientific excellence and innovation capacity of NUBiP in Ukraine O2. Exchange of knowledge and best practices through joint proposals, publications and visits to enhance scientific reputation O3. Implement field trials on combined effects of biostimulant application and cereal-legume intercrop on productivity and provision of ecosystem services O4. Communication, dissemination and exploitation of project outputs on agro-ecological intensification The main results are 1.Improved research competence and profile of 5 researchers from the coordinating NUBiP team 2.Exchange of best practices to upskill and upgrade researchers from NUBiP 3.Productivity and ecosystem service assessment of combined effects of biostimulants’ applications and cereal-legume intercrops 4.Synthesis of best practices on agro-ecological practices for dissemination and outreach ECOTWINS will enhance the research competence and excellence, as well as management and translational skills of NUBiP coordination team, by strategic and progressive transfer of knowledge and skills from the three EU partners (UCPH, SLU, ESCI). Furthermore, this project will strengthen NUBiP existing networks with other Ukrainian and international institutions by widening its research outlook and network with the support of EU partners. As a test bed and model sustainable cultivation site, ECOTWINS will also have an explorative agro-ecological research as a common theme across the WP activities using local resources. This will contribute to boosting the research in agroecology, disseminatee the sustainability-linked results and awareness to the scientific community, SMEs and general public in Ukraine.

The main objective of the VET4GSEB project is to transfer the experience and good practices in the field of VET from the EU countries to 4 third countries participating in the project. It intends to provide the national VET providers with adapted solutions, training materials, case studies, tools and guidelines, which will allow them to update their training practices and programs in order to meet the skills needs of the labour market in the building and RES sector. The objective will be reached by a series of activities using an innovative approach: trainers from VET providers from all participating countries will be provided with comprehensive information through an on-line networking Platform including:•Database of companies from the building and RES sector from all partners to update the information on the needs of the labour market in different countries;•Database of innovative training methods and tools, digital technologies implemented in the energy systems in smart buildings, innovative technical solutions for the application of PV systems in buildings; •Training materials on 5 modules and a Guidebook for the VET trainers.The partners from Bulgaria and Turkey, owing extensive experience in VET regarding new training methods, soft skills, smart electrical installations and PV systems in buildings, incl. the necessary digital skills for them, will create training materials in order to transfer their knowledge to the participants from third countries not associated to the Programme: Albania, Armenia, Georgia and Ukraine, through the networking Platform.Trainings for VET providers from all participating countries will be performed in 2 phases: 1 pilot training in English for 18 trainers and 6 national trainings for 10 trainers each - in national languages.The expected results are 78 up-skilled VET providers who will improve their training practices and deliver updated training, adapted to the new needs of the market for electricians from the RES s

Research and innovation (R&I) in Ukraine has seen challenging times since the break-up of the Soviet Union, most recently facing major damage to R&I infrastructure due to the Russian aggression. However, as the country obtained EU candidate status and started the EU negotiations in July 2024, the ambition to promote its research system and ensure its integration into the European Research Area has received a new impetus. The RIFF project will facilitate an upgrade of R&I system in Ukraine by offering a fresh and forward-looking perspective on the Ukrainian research infrastructures RIs). RIFF will deliver “Roadmap for Recovery and Enhancement of RIs in Ukraine” using both (1) bottom-up approach with an open call for proposals, robust training, awareness raising and dissemination strategy towards potential applicants, rooted in a network of eight partners in Ukraine; and (2) top-down approach with a robust consultation process involving a broad range of stakeholders from the government, policymakers and the scientific community. It will reflect also the green and digital transition priorities. The roadmapping process will apply peer-review methodology established by ESFRI and engage panels of internationally renowned experts. RIFF activities will efficiently connect Ukrainian RIs to EU/ESFRI through the implementation team linked to major European RIs and a comprehensive strategy for enabling mobility and knowledge exchange between EU RIs and the Ukrainian scientific community, including training programme for Ukrainian RI managers, operators and policymakers. Finally, we will implement an ambitious promotion programme among national and international stakeholders. The robust roadmapping approach of RIFF, assisted by leading international experts, will offer credible steps towards recovery and enhancement of RIs in Ukraine. The Roadmap will provide guidance for national funding of RIs, and will also be a trustworthy investment guideline to international donors.

Path4Med is a multi-participatory and multidisciplinary project that will pave clear pathways towards zero water and soil pollution in the agro-hydro-system of the Mediterranean sea basin and other European seas through an innovative triple bottom line approach achieving economic, social, and environmental sustainability to ensure human well-being and ecosystems functioning. Path4Med will advance and consolidate agricultural management technologies and solutions within an inclusive and open participatory environment, it will evolve and mainstream novel monitoring technologies and integrated solutions, it will assess the technical feasibility and socioeconomic viability of cascades of solutions through an integrated modelling framework, it will quantify the effectiveness and the net impact of these solutions, and ultimately it will empower Citizens to take action against pollution of soils, waters and the ocean, through clear measurable evidences, increased awareness, and water literacy. Path4Med pathways will be applied and demonstrated in large scale, integrated, Demonstration Sites established in representative Mediterranean areas, in areas representing other European seas and in associated regions. A digital platform and other relevant digital tools will be established to facilitate Path4Med actions, information and knowhow communication, and to support data exchange and data feeding to international Observatories and Knowledge Systems.