Start of implementation of the Interreg Danube Region project "TransAC"

On May 15 and 16, 2025, the initial (kick-off) meeting Interreg Danube Region Programme project called "Establishing a Danube training academy as a measure against brain drain from rural and crisis regions (TransAC)This project, of which he is the leading partner Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (CUAS) from Austria, is implemented within the call "A more social Danube Region". This meeting officially marked the beginning of the implementation of another in a series of international projects financed from EU funds in which the University of Zenica participates and which will further improve its capacities in the areas of international cooperation, application of new technologies, and development of innovative models of education and lifelong learning. The University of Zenica (UNZE) is one of 14 partners from 7 countries (Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Germany, Romania, Ukraine). In addition to the University of Zenica, the Zenica Development Agency ZEDA is also participating in the project from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The main objective of the TransAC project is to establish a Danube Training Academy as a measure to combat brain drain, with a special focus on crisis and rural areas. The academy will be focused on providing modern training in the field of additive manufacturing (3D printing), recognizing its significant economic potential and the expected growth in demand for skilled personnel in this innovative industry, with special attention paid to young people prone to migration, as well as other vulnerable groups.

On behalf of the University of Zenica, the meeting in Austria was attended by v. ass. mr. Kenan Varda, communication project manager for the University, and Armin Ormanović, financial project manager for the University. The project coordinator for the University of Zenica, v. prof. dr. Josip Kačmarčik, participated online at the opening of the meeting on the first day.

The kick-off meeting was successful, and during the two-day program, all key activities for the start of project implementation were agreed upon. After introductory greetings and introductions of project partners, project objectives, financial management, communication strategy were discussed in detail, and strategies for the implementation of activities within the work packages were defined through group work.