RESEARCH
AND PROJECT

Brief description:

DAREING is a cross-border project aimed at enhancing the development of digital solutions in the field of care for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s. The project connects SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), patients, caregivers, healthcare institutions, and public administrations to create services and technologies that truly address their needs. It includes an empowerment program with training, direct collaboration with patients, an innovation hackathon, and an incubation period for the best ideas, as well as the establishment of an ICT platform that collects sector-related information and products. The main objective is to foster innovation, competitiveness, and the adoption of technology in the healthcare sector in the Southern Adriatic region.

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Brief description:

The TechMed3D project aims to bridge the gap between technology and healthcare by developing curiculum in technical medicine at higher education institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) and Albania (ALB). Addressing the lack of interdisciplinary education in medical technology and the underdevelopment of 3D printing applications, the project introduces Data-driven Decision Making, Image-guided Interventions, and Modeling & Design in Medicine. A key innovation is the creation of personalized 3D-printed breast prostheses to enhance post-mastectomy care. 

Activities of the project include curriculum development, academic staff training, industry and academia collaboration, and student engagement, ensuring a modernized approach to technical medicine education. By implementing a structured governance and monitoring system, TechMed3D ensures high-quality education, industry collaboration, and patient-centered healthcare innovation. The initiative aims to train 10 staff members in medical technology, enroll 50 students per HEI in the new courses, and develop personalized breast prostheses with a target 80% patient satisfaction rate. 

The project will also establish the TechMed3D Cluster, fostering collaboration between academia and industry. Aligned with EU priorities such as the Green Deal, Global Gateway Strategy, and European Research Area, TechMed3D promotes sustainability, innovation, and employability. The long-term impact includes potential clinical adoption of personalized prostheses and the creation of a spin-off startup, strengthening the intersection of engineering and medicine in the region.

Brief description:

The project introduces an innovative GET approach (Grounded+Ecological+Transition) to pro-green urbanism and climate-sensitive territorial regeneration, tackling key challenges in the Mediterranean. It aims to create new curricula and networks of knowledge exchange to develop sustainable strategies, processes, and solutions that promote resilient, inclusive, and contextually-sensitive urban environments. This capacity-building initiative merges the place-based architectural and planning traditions of South-European schools to strengthen education, research and collaborative practice in the South Mediterranean (Egypt, Morocco) and Western Balkans (Albania, Montenegro).

The project addresses the priority common needs in the regions

• (1) low effectiveness in the implementation of global policies,
• (2) fragmented and uncoordinated uni-sectoral plans, and finally,
• (3) the tardiness of the HE systems in qualifying graduates to address real development challenges and societal needs.

The resulting curricula will be developed, tested, and transferred in a consortium of three European and seven non-European universities, alongside NGOs, that will drive structural education reform introducing integrative curricula, methodologies, and practical education. Curricula development process includes:

• (1) hands-on seminars for teacher training in Europe, and
• (2) workshops to test, fine-tune and contextualize content and methodologies.

A second result is the establishment of an interdisciplinary, intersectoral network of upgraded GET Labs Labs in non-EU countries. The GET Labs will involve non-academics in the green transition and engage them with academia in an educational framework that is adaptable, practice-oriented, and responsive to local cultures, ecosystems, and socio-economic conditions. Ultimately, the project envisions enhanced HE systems that prepare young professionals to lead the green, sustainable and inclusive development of the Mediterranean.

VIRTUEU – VIRTUAL EXCHANGE FOR ACTIVE CITIZENS

VirtuEu is a Virtual Exchange program that unites young people across borders, ensuring inclusivity by overcoming barriers that might hinder participation. It aims to engage over 2.500 students of HEIs (Higher Education Institutions) from EU State Members and Western Balkan Countries in activities that will promote active citizenship and civic participation. We believe that by working together, sharing insights, and learning from each other, we can achieve greater impact than any of us could alone. Our project is built on a foundation of mutual respect, open communication, and a shared commitment of empowering the target group and make them more active in civic participation.

For more information visit Project Page

Metropolitan Innovation Center

Project Focus: Enhancing Digital Skills in AI and Big Data Business Analytics

The projects aim at introducing ‘Big Data Business Analytics’ and ‘Digital Finance’ VET Programs integrating hands-on experiences and in-company training to address the identified demand for skilled professionals in these emerging sectors. With a 9-month duration, the CT Programme aims to make the labor supply more responsive to market needs, filling the gap for specialized professionals. The project also aligns with UMT’s commitment to adapt curricula to industry needs and contribute to the empowerment of young people, providing a strategic response to the evolving business environment.

For more information visit Project Page

REGIONAL CHALLENGE FUND (RCF) -Cooperative Training for Tourism Management and Software Design

This project, the Cooperative Training Program in Software Design & Development and Tourism Management, Hospitality, and Events, aims to tackle Albania’s significant youth unemployment issue, which stands at 27.2% according to the 2019 INSTAT survey. It addresses the challenges faced by graduates in integrating into the labor market due to a skills gap, as highlighted by studies from the University of Tirana and Metropolitan Tirana University. Despite a relatively favorable employment rate among MTU alumni, the university seeks to elevate standards by collaborating with private companies, with 62.8% of graduates employed in the private sector. Submitted to the Regional Challenge Fund, the proposal endeavors to establish innovative training programs with three partner companies to enhance study programs, align curricula with practical needs, and bridge the gap between theory and practice. The project strategically tackles youth unemployment by aiming to enhance graduate employability through essential partnerships with the private sector.

For more information visit Project Page

SMART4ALL – SELFSUSTAINED CROSS BORDER CUSTOMIZED CYBERPHYSICAL SYSTEM EXPERIMENTS FOR CAPACITY BUILDING AMONG EUROPEAN STAKEHOLDERS

SMART4ALL, a project dedicated to building capacity in Cyber-Physical Systems and the Internet of Things across Europe. By facilitating knowledge exchange between academia and industry and implementing cross-border Pilot Action Experiments, SMART4ALL fosters innovation and digital transformation, particularly in South Eastern Europe. Through capacity-building initiatives and targeted support for emerging technologies, this project paves the way for a more connected and technologically advanced future.

For more information visit Project Page

NEST4WB – New energy competence system and technology for WB energy stability system curriculum reform

The NEST4WB project focuses on modernizing higher education curricula in the Western Balkans (WB) to address the region’s energy challenges and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. By introducing new courses in the energy and ICT sectors, the project aims to digitize the energy system and prepare skilled professionals capable of implementing clean energy solutions. Through the development of new study programs, training centers, and knowledge transfer networks, the project seeks to equip students with competencies in emerging technologies like IoT, AI, and VR, thereby contributing to the region’s energy independence and sustainability goals.

For more information visit Project page

The “Skanderbeg in Time” (SK) project aimed to promote historical values and increase museum visitors through the use of technology.Thanks to the creation of an interactive game, visitors had the opportunity to get to know the national hero better, to become part of the most interesting events such as the signing of agreements or historic speeches or battles.Their robot guided them inside the museum to the most interesting points by orienting themselves on its map, according to the location of the five works selected to be integrated into the project.

The winner’s mission was to explore and find all the locations within a time limit of no more than an hour.The game-based technology is mainly related to tablets / smartphones and Augemented Reality. The project was implemented by the Metropolitan University of Tirana, in close cooperation with the Kruja Museum and the Ministry of Culture.

Meanwhile, in the premises of MTU was organized a painting competition inspired by our national hero, which was attended by students of the professional program of Graphic Design.

This project proposed the creation of cooperation networks between schools and libraries. Eight high schools and eight libraries collaborated in pairs (according to the administrative unit) to improve students’ knowledge and skills, as well as to improve participatory structures.

Libraries directly benefited from this cooperation by establishing an internal library management system, reducing manual work through online service and increasing the number of attendees.On the other hand, schools were encouraged to participate in collaboration through the possibility of extra-curricular learning and the promotion of independent learning among students, aiming at the inclusion of all students by class in a 10-week collaborative project.

This project was finalized with a competition among high school students in Tirana, where three prizes were awarded for the best essays based on the books they had read and one prize for the school. Anisa Nebiu from the school “Petro Nini Luarasi” won the first prize, with a check of 50,000 ALL.

The second place was won by Pavlo Suka of the gymnasium “Sami Frashëri”, with a check of 30,000 ALL, while the third place went again to the school “Petro Nini Luarasi” for the work of student Rexhina Vataj, who was awarded 20,000 ALL. Meanwhile, the school prize was awarded for the “Sami Frashëri” gymnasium.