The second issue of the SmartWB e-newsletter is published: https://www.ucg.ac.me/skladiste/blog_1287/objava_179045/fajlovi/SmartWb%20newsletter%20issue%2002.pdf
THE 9th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE "CIVIL ENGINEERING - SCIENCE AND PRACTICE" GNP 2024, held 4-9 March 2024 in Kolašin, Montenegro. This Conference aims to present recent achievements and share the latest developments in civil engineering science and practice. The SmartWB project team members from the University of Montenegro presented a papers entitled REVIEW OF THE CURRENT STATUS OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN MONTENEGRO, and project team members from the University of Montenegro, University of Niš, and University of Sarajevo presented a paper entitled AN APPROACH TO THE CURRICULA INNOVATION IN THE CLIMATESMART URBAN DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION.
"2. International doctoral colloquium on sustainable development", DOC-ME'2023n held 2 and 3 October in Montenegro. This event provides a unique opportunity for PhD students from Montenegro, Albania, the Western Balkans and international students to receive detailed feedback on their (ongoing) research from fellow PhD students, leading academics and researchers, and representatives of the non-academic sector. The SmartWB project team members from the University of Montenegro presented a paper entitled Demands for Green Jobs in Montenegro vs Capacity of Higher Education Institutions: A Case Study from a Capacity Building Project. The paper provides an overview of an ongoing Erasmus+ capacity-building project, SmartWB, which aims to enhance higher education in climate-smart urban development and strengthen its alignment with the Western Balkans' labour market and society. Web page of the conference: https://doc-me.com/. The paper was published in the conference proceedings: https://www.mards.ucg.ac.me/PhD/Proceedings22
The first issue of the SmartWB e-newsletter is published.
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At the International Scientific Meeting - GREEN AGENDA FOR THE WESTERN BALKANS (June 20-22, 2023, Belgrade, Serbia), the paper "Towards sustainable urban planning in the Western Balkans region, a case study in Albania" was presented as a research paper within the SmartWB project. https://greenforcetwinning.net/event/international-scientific-conference-green-agenda-for-western-balkans-being-held-by-ub-gef/
Abstract: In the Western Balkans, many countries face significant challenges related to urbanization, such as informal settlements, inadequate infrastructure, and environmental degradation. However, many countries in the Western Balkans have been working to modernize and streamline their urban planning regulations to promote more sustainable planning with a more transparent, predictable, and efficient development process. Nevertheless, this involves adopting new technologies and tools for data analysis and visualization and engaging with stakeholders and the public in the planning process to ensure that their needs and concerns are considered. Addressing these challenges will require a concerted effort from city governments, civil society, and the private sector. Building awareness and capacity, securing funding, and strengthening political will are critical steps toward achieving sustainable urban planning in the Western Balkan region. In this regard, some of the challenges will be brainstormed, and the result will be translated into Institutional, individual and infrastructure capacity building in the framework of the project SmartWB. Sustainable urban planning requires a comprehensive approach considering social, economic, and environmental factors. By adopting sustainable urban planning, the Western Balkan region can create more livable, healthy, and resilient cities for current and future generations. In line with that, sustainable urban planning is becoming increasingly important in the Western Balkan region as the population of the cities continues to grow and the environmental impact of urbanization becomes more apparent. Therefore, this study aims to identify the key challenges and opportunities for sustainable urban planning in the region and to develop recommendations for policymakers and urban planners in the context of Albania. https://gef.bg.ac.rs/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/UBGEF-conference-agenda-green-agenda-for-WB.pdf
As part of the Days of Science and Innovation 2023 festival in Montenegro, two Erasmus CBHE projects that are ongoing at the Faculty of Civil Engineering are presented to the interested audience. The goal of the projects is to strengthen the capacity of higher education institutions when it comes to buildings and construction in the era of climate change and accelerated urbanization. The necessity of curricula and teaching methods innovation, modernization of laboratories and continuous cooperation with the non-academic sector was recognized as a priority in both projects. The project "Curriculum innovation in climate-smart urban development based on green and energy efficiency with the non-academic sector - SmartWB" aims to improve the quality of higher education in climate-smart urbanization. On this occasion, one segment of the project was presented - innovative teaching methods - through the use of digital teaching tools in the education process.https://www.ucg.ac.me/objava/blog/1287/objava/168826-jacanje-kapaciteta-za-inovacije-na-gradevinskom-fakultetu-kroz-evropske-projekte
At the International Conference Synergy of Architecture and Civil Engineering (Sinarg 2023), held from 14 to 15 September, Emina Hadžić from the University of Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Milan Gocić from the University of Nis (Serbia) and Marija Jevrić from the University of Montenegro (Montenegro) presented a paper titled "Importance of innovation competence-based curricula in climate-smart urban development based on green and energy efficiency for the Western Balkan region."
Their presentation illuminated the pressing need for innovation in urban development, especially in regions like the Western Balkans grappling with rapid urbanisation. Central to their discussion was the ongoing SmartWB project, which aims to revolutionise higher education by integrating innovative teaching methods prioritising sustainability, green practices, and energy efficiency.
The SmartWB project, a focal point of the presentation, aims to create a sustainable and climate-resilient future by integrating innovative teaching methodologies into higher education programs. By nurturing the skills and competencies required to design and build environmentally conscious urban spaces, SmartWB envisions a greener and more energy-efficient Western Balkans. https://project.gaf.ni.ac.rs/sinarg/
The SmartWB project was presented at the Second International Conference of Civil Engineering – ICCE 2023 in May in Tirana. Freskida Abazaj, hailing from the Polytechnic University of Tirana, and Olga Ćalasan, from the University of Montenegro, introduced the project to raise awareness, promote sustainable development, and foster regional cooperation.
To fully grasp the significance of the SmartWB project, Abazaj and Ćalasan introduced the project concept, activities, expected results and collaborative approach. The presenters highlighted the project's partnerships with academic institutions, government agencies, and non-governmental organisations from Western Balkans and beyond. They emphasised the importance of pooling resources, knowledge, and expertise to tackle the region's complex challenges.
The presentation at ICCE 2023 by Abazaj and Ćalasan effectively showcased the SmartWB project's core concept, activities, expected results, partnerships, and recent developments. This presentation aimed to raise awareness, generate interest, and foster support for the project's mission of promoting sustainable development in the Western Balkans.https://www.thestructuralengineer.info/events/2nd-international-conference-of-civil-engineering-icce-2023
The head of the project, Assistant Professor Marija Jevrić, together with her colleague Olga Čalasan, gave a presentation to her colleagues from the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the University of Montenegro about the knowledge they gained at the theme-base training in Dubrovnik. The theme-based training for teaching staff was held at the Center for Advanced Academic Studies of the University of Zagreb in Dubrovnik from May 9 to 11, 2023. https://www.ucg.ac.me/objava.php?blog_id=1289&objava_id=164879
SmartWB project is on the portal Western Balkans Info Hub: https://wbc-rti.info/object/project/24079
In issue No 42 (May 2023.) of the Chamber of Engineers of Montenegro journal, a paper, SmartWB project: A strong incentive for sustainable development of Western Balkan countries, was published. http://www.ingkomora.me/cms/public/image/publikacije/4486.pdf
University of Montenegro, in cooperation with the University of Granada, hosts the International Staff Week, which takes place from 20-24. March 2023, under the auspices of the European program Erasmus+. The event's theme will be various aspects of the university's internationalisation. Out of 15 winning projects, "Curriculum innovation in climate-smart urban development based on green and energy efficiency with the non-academic sector" (SMARTWB) project was presented in more detail. https://www.ucg.ac.me/objava/blog/616807/objava/160616-predstavljanje-kancelarije-za-projekte-na-medunarodnoj-nedjelji-obuke
