ERASMUS+ SmartWB

In this unprecedented era of increasing urbanization and in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and other global development agreements and frameworks, cities should be well-planned and well-managed. Therefore, climate-smart urbanization can be a powerful tool for sustainable development for developing countries.

The wider objective of the SmartWB project is to improve the quality of higher education in climate-smart urban development (CSUD) field, strengthen its relevance for the labour market and society, enhancing relations between HEIs in WB partner countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro) and the economic and social environment by establishing a technological platform for cooperation, exchange of knowledge, experience and good practices, modernising universities’ courses in line with EU trends and improving the level of competencies and skills of teaching staff. This wider objective is fully compliant with the priorities of the Capacity Building projects within the Erasmus+ program i.e., Green Deal.

One of the most important results will be the interactive web-based platform focused on two aspects. The first covers technical areas such as urban planning systems, construction conditions for private developers, links between land use planning and infrastructure development, land management, and informal construction. The second focuses on the developed action plans. The platform will be adjusted to improve the connection with the local municipalities, focusing on assets, revenues, building permits, and regulatory frameworks for land development and investments. It will be used as an approach for the creation of a more business-friendly environment which is a key for the development of cities in the region.

To achieve planned wider and specific objectives, the Project Consortium consists of six HEIs from EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme: Austria, Croatia, Germany, Norway, Spain and Serbia and seven HEIs from targeted countries of Region 1: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, supported by 5 non-academic partners from the West Balkans region.