STAND project aims to improve the processes and mechanisms of the university autonomy by increasing the management capacities, accountability and transparency of Western Balkans Universities. Sustainable models of university autonomy in Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro are lacking. Although the project ‘FAITH’ and ‘’ QAinAL’’ have addressed some financial management and quality assurance issues in several HEIs in partner countries, there is a pressing need for holistic approach in strengthening university autonomy, in four particular dimensions – organizational, academic, staffing and financial autonomy, which are the most important university governance priorities in Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro. Project “Creating Theory to Practice Centres for Innovation and Employment” also proved the necessity of this initiative, as its implementation was affected by some partner’s capabilities to manage the funds, due to the weak mechanisms between the public institutions and the government. Failure of institutional accreditation by some institutions in Kosovo also proves the need for this project.

The novelty is that the STAND will be the first project in the region that will publish the scorecard and will create a forum of discussion with the main stakeholders in partner countries in providing sustainable models of university governance.

The project comprises of the following key specific objectives:

• To enhance modernisation of governance in Western Balkans Universities through capacity building, experience exchange and upgraded infrastructure;
• To improve the university autonomy through empowering national and university level regulations and structures;
• To create and adopt the university autonomy scorecard for Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro;
• To expand an effective cooperation between HEIs and the relevant ministries in improving the transparency, accountability and financial sustainability;
• To establish of the Expert network on university autonomy.

As structural project it will support reflecting on standards at EU partners and enhancing them at WB institutions through intensified regular academic and management exchange of good practice and sustainable networking between EU-WB partners. Main stakeholders such as Ministries of Education and Agencies of Accreditation agree on the need for improving the current situation.

A mix of bottom-up and top-down approach that will be used in the project, fosters the dialogue between universities and ministries, and thus enables the consortium to contribute more effectively to the project implementation and sustainability to strengthen the autonomy of Western Balkans higher education institutions. The project aims to reach up to 50,000 persons engaged in higher education and other related activities in Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro and abroad through its dissemination activities.

• INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COLLEGE MITROVICA (XK)
• UNIVERSITETI I PRISHTINES (XK)
• UNIVERSITETI PUBLIK KADRI ZEKA (XK)
• UNIVERSITETI I SHKENCAVE TE APLIKUARA NE FERIZAJ (XK)
• UNIVERSITESI I GJAKOVES FEHMI AGANI (XK)
• UNIVERSITETI POLIS SHPK (AL)
• UNIVERSITETI I TIRANES (AL)
• UNIVERSITETI ALEKSANDER MOISIU DURRES (AL)
• JAVNA USTANOVA UNIVERZITET CRNE GORE PODGORICA (ME)
• Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (XK)
• MINISTRIA E ARSIMIT DHE SPORTIT (AL)
• Ministry of Education (ME)
• TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAT HAMBURG (DE)
• SVEUCILISTE U ZAGREBU (HR)
• UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI FOGGIA (IT)
• SOUTH EAST EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY TETOVO (MK)
• ASSOCIATION EUROPEENNE DE L'UNIVERSITE (BE)