MEP&M project proposal aims toward solving multiple issues. First, coastal zone and marine environment protection is one of Montenegrin and Albanian Governments priorities. Also, this field is one of priorities toward EU accession process for all WBC. Lack of adequate number of professionals in governmental institutions and blue economy sector enterprises dealing with issues in this field should be overcome through enhanced education and research at Montenegrin and Albanian HEIs. Secondly, strengthening international competitiveness within European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and European Research Area (ERA) are the main driving forces for Montenegrin and Albanian HEIs.

In order to overcome these shortcomings, MEP&M project will address the following specific objectives:

• Based on state-of-the-art in Maritime Environmental Protection and Management education and research, to develop regional joint interdisciplinary MSc program on English language for students and professionals having at least BSc degree, to address the long-term needs in specific issues of coastal and marine environmental protection and management in South Adriatic and Ionian Seas, thus strengthening international competitiveness of Montenegrin and Albanian HEIs.
• To build up human and technical capacities of PC HEIs to support new MSc program in MEP&M.
• To enhance networking among PC HEIs, governmental institutions, Blue economy sector enterprises and NGOs in order to act regionally in order to prevent and cope with consequences of global climate change and local/regional marine pollution.

Specific objectives will be addressed through realization of Working Packages of the MEP&M project as it follows:

• State of the art on Maritime Environmental Protection and Management. Main goal of WP1 is to identify appropriate model and to develop guidelines for novel joint master degree program in MEP&M with novel teaching and learning methods through e-learning at the Montenegrin and Albanian HEIs. This will be achieved through 3 tasks.
• Master curricula development. The aim of WP2 is to develop novel joint master degree program in MEP&M with novel teaching and learning methods through e-learning at the Montenegrin and Albanian HEIs. This will be achieved through 5 tasks.
• Capacity Building through staff training and equipment purchase. The aim of WP2 is to enhance capacities related to field of MEP&M and e-learning. This will be achieved through 4 main tasks.
• Quality Control and Monitoring. Quality control and monitoring are perceived as important support to management, planning and implementation of project activities, and, as such, they are given special attention within the project. This will be achieved through 4 tasks.
• Dissemination and Exploitation of Project Results. The main objective of WP5 is to ensure the dissemination and sustainability of project results. This will be achieved through 6 tasks.
• Project Management. WP6 is essential to the management of the project. This will be achieved through 5 tasks.

MEP&M project bases its objectives on actual needs. The PC HEIs continuously communicated in the preparation stage, deciding jointly on the priority activities that can be implemented given the timeframe, development level and existing capacities at each institution. Having this in mind, it ensures that the objectives are set realistically.

● JAVNA USTANOVA UNIVERZITET CRNE GORE PODGORICA (ME)
● UNIVERSITETI ALEKSANDER MOISIU DURRES (AL)
● UNIVERSITETI I VLORES (AL)
● UNIVERZA V LJUBLJANI (SI)
● UNIVERSITE COTE D'AZUR (FR)
● UNIVERSIDAD DE CADIZ (ES)
● General Maritime Directorate (AL)
● Nature and Environmental Protection Agency (ME)
● Eco Center DOLPHIN (ME)