<< Background >>Flexible and responsive engineering curricula are needed to keep pace with rapid technological advancement, for jobs and the economy. Modernising these is urgent in the new EU Member States BG, RO and HR, due to innovation lags and skill shortages. Involving industry professionals in the co-design and delivery of relevant curricula, requires HEIs to form long-term bonds for practical in-company training of students and feedback loops to academia to increase quality of programmes.<< Objectives >>Create flexible routes to deliver up-to-date engineering curricula for strategic sectors. Formally integrate student practical phases in enterprises to improve relevance and skills. Set foundation and functional models for introducing dual higher education in country-adapted settings. Promote adjustment of curricula to industry needs in a dual setting; Build capacity and tools for HEI led delivery; Demonstrate its benefits; Develop modification methods and encourage long-term partnerships.<< Implementation >>Academic and industrial experts co-designed and implemented feasible country-specific practice-integrated dual HE models based on best practice with the chambers of commerce as active partners in regional working groups. Trained staff of HEIs and enterprises, set a curriculum development process and tools, adapted and approved curricula, defined contracts, prepared, ran and evaluated pilots and disseminated transferable “Guidelines” on HEI-enterprise engagement, lessons learnt, and benefits.<< Results >>Methodological Guidelines enable experience and results to be maintained and used by other stakeholders in implementing dual HE. The dual HE programmes in RO, BG and HR have modernised the curriculum for engineering students and instruments (a Customised Toolkit for implementation and documentation of practical training and the Train the Trainer course for industry mentors) will facilitate replication of dual education initiatives in other HEIs and EU MS.