Improve the project management skills and capacity in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the Western Balkans, with a specific focus on sustainability, digital transformation, and sustainable growth.
Context
The project directly addresses the challenges of sustainable project management in the region, particularly in light of a recent reform in the higher education system in the Western Balkans. This reform acknowledges the lack of project management capacities among higher education staff and students.
Currently, higher education authorities in Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina are pushing universities toward internationalization, primarily through the creation of consortia and the implementation of joint projects with international partner universities. However, when applying for and managing international projects, university staff highlight the insufficient knowledge and skills of support staff, as well as the lack of sustainable project management skills in the labour market.
SuProM aims to systematically enhance the knowledge and skills of HEIs in the Western Balkans by providing targeted project management training for university staff and introducing sustainable project management courses into their curricula.
The project consists of three phases:
- Analyzing project management processes in higher education institutions;
- Engaging stakeholders in the higher education community through the delivery of project management training;
- Strengthening project management capacity by incorporating sustainable project management courses into higher education programs.
Objectives
- Improve the quality of higher education in the Western Balkans and enhance its relevance to the labour market and society.
- Strengthen the project management skills of higher education institutions and improve students’ employability.
- Foster institutional cooperation, capacity building, and the exchange of best practices.
Activities
- Organization of a process management training in Slovenia, including training for HEI representatives on project management, analysis of PM processes, and identification of knowledge gaps to develop future administrative support activities.
- Development of a tailored training approach and organization of two project management trainings for HEI staff, students, and stakeholders, focusing on process gaps, sustainability, environmental awareness, and digital skills to foster a collaborative community.
- Development of sustainable project management modules integrating green, digital, and other sustainability aspects, in collaboration with stakeholders and university management, to align with labour market needs and implement pilot courses in HEIs in Albania and in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Resources
- Guidebook on process management
- Project management training material
- Syllabus material for Sustainable project management course in Albania
- Syllabus material for Sustainable project management course in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Project website
Impact
- Two project management training events for 60-75 HEI staff members and five pilot courses on sustainable project management for 25 students in the Western Balkans HEIs.
- HEI staff and students will enhance their project management skills, with evaluations tracking progress and identifying key knowledge gaps.
- Tailored training materials, including PM modules, a guidebook, and a toolkit, will be developed to meet HEI staff needs and labour market demands.
- A community of practice will be established among HEIs, businesses, and EU entities to foster knowledge exchange, professional growth, and a better understanding of project management and EU funding processes.
Partners
- University of Ljubljana (Slovenia, coordinator)
- Università degli Studi di Palermo (Italy)
- CESIE ETS (Italy)
- UNIMED (Italy)
- Aleksandër Xhuvani University of Elbasan (Albania)
- Ismail Qemali University of Vlorë (Albania)
- “Fan S. Noli” University (Albania)
- University of Tuzla (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- University of Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
