First study visit organized by UNIRI RITEH – Rijeka

University of Rijeka – Faculty of Technical Sciences, hosted the first Study visit in the framework of the Erasmus+ NEST4WB project. Form June 12^th – 14^th, in addition to the regular SC & PMC meetings, the UNIRI RITEH staff prepared the Faculty tour and laboratories visit for the project partners.

The meeting started with the welcome speeches on behalf of the host institution PhD Rene Prenc, and on behalf of coordinator institution PhD Bojan Prlincevic. Following was the presentation of PhD Rene Prenc, who introduced the host institution (UNIRI-RITEH) and the Departments of the Technical faculty, focusing on the Department of Automation and Electronics and the Department of Electric Power Systems.

The first session then continued with the description of the Undergraduate and Graduate University Study of Electrical Engineering (Batchelor’s and Master’s Degree) held in UNIRI RITEH, focusing on the innovations of the study program expected to be introduced in the academic years 2024/2025 and 2025/2026, followed by the guided tour for laboratory visit:

Guided tour to Electrical Engineering Fundamentals Laboratory,
Guided tour to Electrical Machines and Drives Laboratory,
Guided tour to Laboratory for Automation and Robotics,
Guided tour to Laboratory for electrical measurements and instrumentation,

Guided tour to Laboratory for Electric Substations and Secondary Systems.

The afternoon program included analysis and discussion on the state of the energy sector at the national level in the Western Balkans countries.

Second day of the Study visit started with the first regular SC and PMC meetings. The SC analyzed activities related to establishing the project in the first six months of work.

At the meeting, the SC has discussed the project management plan, quality assurance plan, dissemination and exploitation plan, and sustainability plan. Tasks for the next period has been assigned. The PMC meeting focused on submitting and adopting the work package leader’s reports.

Special session during the second day was a presentation of prof. PhD Joaqin Ordieres Mere, who presented the PM² method of project management giving the cross-sectoral analysis of the set-up system of NEST4WB project management and possible places for its improvement.

The event continued with a presentation of the Assessment and analysis of the position of HEIs, review of qualifications and analysis of the content of study programs in Western Balkans countries (WB) versus project countries (PC).

The project day ended with a joint dinner organized by the host institution in Mladenka restaurant in Rijeka.

The third day was dedicated for the following sessions:

Session 1

Defining a framework for developing new qualifications and competencies in the energy sector through the use of digital tools and ICT (review of the applicability of digital technologies).
Analysis of existing methodological models for teaching, with an emphasis on the hybrid model.

Session 2

Defining the development of new methodical models for the implementation of the teaching process based on digital technologies.
Defining a model for the development of an interactive e-learning platform.

The Study visit was finalized with planning of the following activities

Next meeting in Athens, hosted by Ethniko Kai Kapodistriako Panepistimio Athinon (NKUA)
Discussion on the tasks to be carried out by WP2
Introductory discussion for WP3

Discussion and conclusion of the study visit in Rijeka

We would like to thank the project partners for their participation in the meeting in Rijeka and look forward to seeing them again very soon in Athens – Evia.

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.

6.2
Title	Improvement of cooperation among Western Balkans Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) community.
Description	Communication channels will be created between WB HEIs, which will aim at regular exchange of information and examples of good practice. The goal of the community is to expand to other WB HEIs outside of NEST4WB partners.

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.