Objectives – NEST4WB

The NEST4WB project aims to modernize study programs in the field of Energy through digitization, which would achieve that experts from the Western Balkans would be highly qualified. Also, NEST4WB moves the focus of the spectrum of energy competences from the field of clean energy, as is the case everywhere at the WB, to part of the curriculum in the field of information technologies, which introduces the fields of energy into other fields of technology and will thereby create conditions for a more efficient response to energy challenges in the open the path to an energy-responsible society.

The general and specific goals of the NEST4WB project are aimed at students, teachers, professionals, decision-makers at the local, regional and national level, and young people in general. Through the improvement of competences, the conditions will be created for the creation of professionals capable of responding to the demands of the modern energy market, which is in great demand in all countries participating in the project. Deepened existing and newly acquired knowledge will enable future students to apply block-chain technology, IOT, AI, VR, drones successfully create and manage energy processes, develop new management models and increase the energy efficiency of industrial plants. In addition to students, the focus of the project results is also aimed at professionals in industry and the economy, as well as teaching staff, who will have the opportunity to improve their professional expertise through the exchange of examples of good practices and develop their own method, how to effectively transfer this knowledge to students and to all those interested. A detailed analysis of the situation in the energy sector, as well as the areas of digitization of the energy sector, energy efficiency of industrial processes, and the application of renewable energy sources in everyday life in all WB countries, indicates that there is a lot of space for improvement.

The EU narrative of investment in “knowledge-based” economy has also permeated WB countries. However, even though member and candidate countries are eligible to apply for funds from the EU to finance research and development, competition for these resources has proved very difficult for institutions in the WB. These countries have limited resources at their disposal to begin with, unlike developed countries that are able to invest significantly larger resources in the necessary expertise and infrastructure, to successfully tap into these funding streams. In the Western Balkans, most students in higher education are enrolled in public institutions. Even though tertiary enrolment rates in the region are relatively high—on average close to 50 percent of the traditional, college-going age-class – the degree completion rates are rather low. So NEST4WB tends to modernize HEIs, supports energetic transition and rise citizen activism.

NEST4WB is a logical continuation of the previous ELEMEND project and fills a gap in the educational curriculum by including de-carbonization goals in the field of ENERGY. In the previous period, project participants were also part of the ERASMUS + KALCEA project (Knowledge Triangle for Low Carbon Economy). The NEST4WB project is in line with the Green Deal, which is one of the main priorities of the EU. The goal of the European Green Deal is to transform EU countries from a high-carbon economy to a low-carbon economy, without reducing prosperity and at the same time improving people’s quality of life, providing cleaner water and air, better health, the environment and a healthier natural world. The NEST4WB project with the Green Deal as its main priority is intrinsically linked to the KALCEA project, which was also based on a green economy achieved through a low-carbon economy. In the field of training personnel with competencies that include de-carbonization, the Higher Education Institution is involved in the PELMOB project (Partnership for Promotion and Popularization of Electrical Mobility through Transformation and Modernization of WB HEIs Study Programs). The popularization of electric vehicles greatly affects the reduction of CO2 emissions, and the goals of the NEST4WB project are linked to the goals of the PELMOB project through the creation of experts with digital competencies in the management and rationalization of production and energy consumption.

7.7
Title	Promotion at scientific conferences.
Description	Project results will be promoted at scientific conferences in the form of scientific and research papers. Presentation of the papers is planned at the scientific conference INFOTEH in Bosnia and Herzegovina (M33). The participation of representatives of all WB HEIs at the conference is planned, with the support of researchers from EU and AP HEIs.

7.6
Title	Promotion of e-knowledge platform.
Description	Established the e-knowledge platform will be created with thematic units that will promote the application of ICT in energy and synergy with the Green Agenda. The platforms will contain the most common questions and answers and knowledge quizzes. The promotion of the platform will be carried out on TV shows and through social networks.

7.5
Title	Promotion of training programs aimed at the economy and the wider community
Description	Promotional info events will be organized at all WB HEIs, two for each WB HEIs. These events will be organized in the second and third year of the project's life cycle, with the aim of promoting digitization in energy (rational energy consumption) and the green agenda. Promotional events will be of different types: announcements on TV stations and on billboards, brochures, and leaflets where details of the application of digitization in the energy sector will be presented. Business partners will also participate in the promotion of the application of ICT in energy and green weeks.

7.4
Title	Info days.
Description	In order to promote established study programs and enroll in them, 16 info days will be organized, two per each WB HEIs. Info days will be realized in the second year of the project. Promotional materials of WB HEIs will be printed to inform students about the developed bachelor's/master's degree programs.

7.3
Title	Promotion of study programs in media and on social networks
Description	Results and activities related to NEST4WB will be promoted on social networks such as: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Lindekin, Twitter... All WB partners will participate in the promotion and place hyperlinks on their websites to pages on social networks. Special attention will be devoted to the promotion of new/innovated study programs, through NEST4WB, and the enrollment of students in these study programs.

6.3
Title	Cooperation agreements between Western Balkans Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and interested parties from the economy.
Description	Agreements will be signed on long-term cooperation between WB HEIs, the economy, and the economic community on popularizing the rational use of energy in light of the energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine.

6.1
Title	Creation of a sustainability plan
Description	The sustainability plan will pay particular attention to academic sustainability and financial sustainability. The sustainability plan will determine the procedures and recommendations for long-termmonitoring and improvement of the developed and innovated master's/basic studies plans and programs.

WP6
Start Month	1	End Month	36
Objectives	Creating a sustainability plan. Enhancing WB HEIs community cooperation. Agreements on cooperation between WB HEIs and interested parties from the economy

5.3
Title	Quality control monitoring.
Description	Constant quality evaluation is ensured by continuous presentation of NEST4WB results and activities, as well as periodic review by experts teams after each year of the project's life cycle.