The Public International Business College of Mitrovica (IBCM) participated in the hybrid Kickoff Meeting of the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) project WE-MIND – Advancing Mental Health and Innovation in Western Balkans Higher Education Through Digital Transformation, hosted by RIT Kosovo on 8–9 December 2025.

The WE-MIND project brings together a strong international consortium committed to advancing mental health literacy, digital transformation, and human capital development in higher education institutions across the Western Balkans. Alongside IBCM, partner institutions include the:

1. RIT Kosova
2. Medical University of Vienna (MUW)
3. Polytechnic of Porto (P. Porto)
4. Institute for Research and Innovation in Life and Health Sciences of Central Catalonia (IRIS-CC)
5. Sarajevo School of Science and Technology (SSST)
6. University of Sarajevo (UNSA)

The consortium was also addressed online by Dimitrios Moschos, Project Officer from the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), who provided important guidance on project implementation, reporting requirements, deadlines, and visibility obligations.  The meeting was attended on behalf of IBCM by Prof. Asst. Bujar Gallopeni, Project Coordinator from IBCM, and Lecturer Flamur Abazaj, supporting staff responsible for quality assurance and monitoring within the project.

• During the first day, partners reviewed the project’s objectives, milestones, and deliverables, while clarifying institutional roles and responsibilities in line with the Grant Agreement. These discussions laid the foundation for effective collaboration and timely implementation of WE-MIND activities.
• The second day of the meeting focused on project management and coordination, including financial procedures and administrative workflows. This was followed by the first Project Management Committee meeting, attended by representatives from all partner institutions, where governance structures and reporting protocols were formally confirmed.
• In the afternoon, partners were divided into three hybrid working groups to initiate coordination on the most urgent milestones and early deliverables. The kickoff meeting concluded with a joint session outlining next steps, aligning immediate priorities, and setting clear short-term timelines for the consortium.

IBCM’s Role in WE-MIND

Through its participation in WE-MIND, IBCM reaffirms its commitment to strengthening mental health awareness, digital innovation, and institutional capacity building in higher education. The project represents an important opportunity for IBCM to contribute expertise, collaborate internationally, and support sustainable reforms aligned with European standards.

IBCM looks forward to working closely with all partners to ensure the successful implementation of WE-MIND and meaningful outcomes for students, academic staff, and higher education systems across the Western Balkans.

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.