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.

Montenegro and Albania (M&A) have a heritage in planning economy, which means the young can not ask the adult generation for advice in Innovation and Entrepreneurship (l&E). Thus, l&E in Blue Industries need to be learned from the ground up and examples need to be brought in from neighboring countries as case studies and visits to l&E successes. An important element in succeeding with Blue economy l&E study programs that attracts the young and talented students and inspire the teachers is to re-establish a dynamic maritime environment. Ideally this would develop into a maritime cluster consisting of all elements of the value chain from maritime industry to service provider. Lithuania, Croatia and Norway together cover state-of-the art l&E applied to the Blue Economies of former planning­economy countries. To supply graduate student and seafarers to the demanding Blue ocean industries it is necessary offer training on up to date digital equipment with competence programs. Delivering large number of graduates to the Blue Industry make HEls attractive and up to date. The BLUEWBC project aims to connect M&A to this cycle. Revise courses at partner HEls related to l&E in: - 8 BSc and 10 MSc courses revised and 3 new BSc & MSc courses developed in Navigation and costal traffic, Maritime sciences, engineering, management & logistics and Tourism Management- 150 BSc and 30 MSc students from 3 HEls to be involved in revised and developed courses.- Establish 3 Centers for l&E at each partner HEls- Introduce and develop Lifelong Learning (LLL) courses- It is expected at least 25 professionals to be involved at partner HEls developed LU courses.- Training of 20 staff members (Teachers)from partner HEls.- Training of MSc students as pilot activity and 200 students from partner HEls.- Provide new prototyping equipment for 3 Centers for l&E at each partner HEI. Additionally, UoM will upgrade existingdigital maritime simulators, UV will upgrade existing simulators.

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.

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.

In Albania, the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoESY) is working on the national strategy for the Development of Pre-University Education that includes the implementation of a comprehensive Vocational and Educational Training (VET) System for the professional development of teachers that are in service at pre-university levels. The project aims at contributing to the comprehensive VET system for teachers by developing a lifelong learning (LLL) Teacher Training System of high quality by means of an accreditation procedure and through the establishment of specialized LLL centres in Albanian universities.Specific objectives are the following:1. Defining a strategy for a comprehensive VET system for teachers emphasasing the contribution of universities as main providers of ongoing professional development for a high quality of the teacher qualification process. This objective will be achieved by both European and Albanian partners in collaboration with MoESY. 2. Establishing new expertise and standard of teacher training in Albanian universities through organizing a training workshop for Albanian universities and training visits to European universities. This objective will be reached in each Albanian university involving the process of academic staff selection with certain expertise in training program development. 3. Establishing specialized LLL Centres for Teacher Training according to the strategy of MoESY and to the needs of in-service teachers. Each Albanian university in collaboration with European partners and MoESY will decide about training centre team that has to include academic staff selected, master teachers and representatives of regional directorate of education in order to meet all the teachers’ needs for annual qualification and professional development. The centre should have a location with a name, an address, a structure proposed, etc. Albanian partners have to visit European project partner institutions and to be trained in order to understand the process.4. Developing teacher training course programs for different levels of education in scientific methodologies, pedagogical issues, ethics and ICT use in learning according to European standards. After identifying teacher qualification needs, the training centres team have to coordinate through a Network of LLL Centres for Teacher Training in order to identify and select the teacher training programs that contribute in relevant level in the new competencies of teaching in high standard. 5. Designing and developing a new academic methodology that consist in credits application to MoESY for 16 new teacher training courses with 2 credits each and design classrooms and equipment to support the training process. 6. Creating digital structures (video projectors, interactive laboratories, smart board, laptops, etc.) in Albanian universities that support training process for teacher qualification and their lifelong learning. Academic staff and students involved to the centre will work to be creative and to discover equipment and other ICT resources that perform and illustrate new knowledge in an attractive way. 7. Developing a national information management system & database of teacher training that will be able to register teachers in training courses, to manage the assessment processes, exams, course materials delivery, etc. Human resources of Albanian universities will be engaged to design and develop the national system that manages the process of teacher registration. This objective involves government requirements within the definition of a broadher accreditation system and needs the collaboration of representatives from MoESY and other national and international stakeholders.