The project aims at building capacities of the targeted Western Balkans universities to research EU public policies and deliver teaching and training courses for public administration, business community and civil society organizations. By promoting the targeted universities into leading training and consultancy centers for EU public policies the project will satisfy the ever-growing need among identified target groups for better understanding of EU public policies and provision of related information (such as new legislation and available funding). The establishment of the centers for EU public policies and training of university teachers to deliver trainings related to their research fields could significantly contribute to the EU integration of their respective countries by assisting civil servants, entrepreneurs and NGO activists in acquiring and applying knowledge on EU public policies and processes.
The purpose of the project is to increase awareness, understanding and knowledge about EU public policies in the targeted countries (Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro), thus contributing to their EU integration process. This will be accomplished mainly through building capacities of selected universities in these countries to provide adequate teaching and training on EU public policies for civil servants, business community and NGO activists. The project should help the promotion of the identified universities into leading training and consultancy centers for EU public policies and processes. Establishment of the centers for EU public policies at the universities, coaching the university lecturers to transfer knowledge and skills to non-academics, development of the trainings on a number of relevant policy areas and accumulation of teaching and researching resources could be a sustainable solution for the growing need of public and private sectors in target countries to understand functioning of EU institutions and the possible impact of their policies. By the end of project, the established centers should also serve as dissemination and consultancy agencies specialized for the EU public policies. Furthermore, the twin centers would facilitate regional academic cooperation and networking, not only in the area of EU public policies, but also in other related research fields.
