Starting from the participating institutions, the project will bring to light the difficulties and discrepancies in HEIs regarding the processes and mechanisms for managing European projects. At all geographical levels, it will facilitate access to the opportunities offered by European programs for universities, improving knowledge of the programs and requirements necessary to apply and manage them.This project will strengthen the capacity and role of the Higher Education and, all Project centres/offices which works to supports, on one hand, the modernisation, capacity building and internationalisation of HEIs and research institutions. On the other, it carries on Quality assurance and evaluation of processes at HEIs and research institutions. The tools developed within the project will be available at other HEIs at the international level. All Higher Education Institutions at local, regional, national and EU levels who intend to work more easily in the field of the European funds will benefit from the project Outputs.The Project NUTSHELL will be implemented by the consortioum of 4 institutions:University of Economics, PragueUniversity LjubljanaCESIE - European centre of studies and initiatives, ItalyHUMAK – University of applied Sciences, Finlandwith the aim of Quality assurance of international project management and cooperation in the field of higher educationfollowing the Needs and Objectives:To increase the competencies of administrative staff academics and Ph.D. students who are in the role of potential coordinators/partners of international projectsTo identify main problems and challenges being solved in the field of higher education international project management and offer solutionsTo facilitate the exchange of best practices among institutions involved in international projects and increase their capacity for international project managementTo identify good practice and pilot support tools for smooth and efficient communication with project partners Intellectual outputs leading to the project results:IO 1 Analysis of processes of international project management in institutions involvedIO 2 Optimization of the international project agenda processes in project centers/offices of higher education institutions based on needs analysis resultsIO 3 Toolkit for the implementation in preparation, realization and evaluation phase of EU projects in the field of higher educationIO 4 Guidelines for effective communication and networking strategy Results expected during the project and on its completion:Analysis of processes of international project management in institutions involved will take place.Optimization of the international project agenda processes in project centres/offices of higher education institutions based on needs analysis results will be designed.Toolkit for the implementation in preparation, realization and evaluation phase of EU projects in the field of higher education will be available. The Toolkit will be addressed to administrative staff, academic staff and PhD students who are in the role of potential coordinators/partners of international projects and it aims at providing them with core skills and a lean method to plan, manage and implement EU funded international projects not only on partner institutions, but also to all relevant stakeholders and will be published on all relevant platforms. Guidelines for effective communication and networking strategy will be established.Training for the staff in the use of process mapping software and methodologies and contribute to the piloting of the new processes will be implemented.Training on piloting of the new processes which will serve as a learning experience for project participants and administrative staff of partner institutions will be organized.Directly supported participantsduring the trainings: 24Target group inside partnership:Staff from project departmentsAcademicsPh.D. studentsTarget group ouside partnership:All Higher Education Institutions at local, regional, national and EU levels who intend to work more easily in the field of the European funds. Other organisations such as NGOs, research institutions, business actors and public authorities, other educational levels as potential partners in European projects in collaboration with HEIs.