Modernization of higher education in Western Balkan countries by incorporating renewable energy engineering and energy efficiency methodologies in curricula relating to the building sector

Buildings in the Western Balkans (WB) lack severely when it comes to the performance demands on energy efficiency set forth by the European Commission. The need to support the region’s building sector to achieve better performance resulted in identifying a requirement for higher education reform, incorporating components of both active and passive design elements and engineering on energy efficiency, in programs that relate to construction. Within the scope of the EU co-funded project “reZEB- Fostering Renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency knowledge towards new zero energy buildings of engineers and professionals in Western Balkan countries”, a group of seven universities and one vocational school cooperated to modernize curricula in Bachelor’s and Master’s programs. The project modernized sixteen modules and introduced ten new modules in various fields pertaining to sustainability in the built environment. The process included technical aspects, supported through advanced laboratory equipment and applications. Herein, we present a rare example of a comprehensive effort to modernize curricula and improve targeted professional skills in Albania and Kosovo. The paper describes the process followed and the educational targets covered, and discusses the preliminary results of the assessment feedback, aiming to produce professionals able to understand and take advantage of the opportunities that green technologies offer on environmental, social and economic levels.