The University of Sarajevo hosted the official Kick-off Meeting of the Erasmus+ CBHE project AHEDIS – Advancing Higher Education through Digital Innovation and Smart Technologies on 26 November 2025. The event marked the formal start of a three-year regional initiative aimed at modernizing higher education systems in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro through advanced digital tools, AI-supported teaching methodologies, and strengthened cooperation with EU partners.
The meeting brought together 25 representatives from 12 partner institutions across Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, and Germany, underscoring a strong international commitment to supporting digital transformation in medical and health-oriented higher education.
A Strategic Step Toward Modernized Education and Healthcare
Opening the event, the University of Sarajevo welcomed all partners and highlighted the project’s relevance for the Western Balkan region, particularly in health-related study programs where modern pedagogical approaches and digital competencies are increasingly essential.
Project Coordinator Prof. Dr. Alisa Elezović presented the AHEDIS vision:
“AHEDIS is designed to bridge the gap between education and the evolving needs of the healthcare sector. Through collaborative work, digital innovation, and capacity building, we aim to empower academic staff, students, and healthcare professionals with skills necessary for the future.”
Throughout the day, partner institutions introduced their roles and contributions, reaffirming a collective dedication to raising the standards of higher education and lifelong learning.
Presentation of Work Packages and Project Structure
The central part of the meeting was dedicated to a comprehensive presentation of the AHEDIS project’s six Work Packages (WPs), outlining the strategic, academic, and technical foundations for the project’s implementation. Through joint discussion, the consortium reviewed the full project architecture, covering management, preparatory activities, course development, teaching materials, implementation, and dissemination.
Partners explored the project’s management framework, including mechanisms for quality assurance, financial and administrative coordination, and sustainability planning. The preparatory phase, involving needs analyses, institutional assessments, and the establishment of methodological baselines, was emphasized as critical for ensuring that upcoming activities align with the real needs of higher education institutions and healthcare professionals in the region.
The consortium also reviewed the planned modernization of 24 undergraduate courses and the development of 6 lifelong learning programs. These activities will be supported by extensive staff training in innovative pedagogical practices, digital and audiovisual skills, XR technologies, and healthcare-related AI. The development of new teaching materials, including pre-recorded video content, AI-supported case studies, and XR-enhanced learning resources, will further strengthen the transition toward contemporary, learner-centred education.
The practical implementation phase of the courses was presented through detailed timelines, student and professional engagement targets, and mechanisms for integrating digital tools into teaching and assessment. Finally, the consortium discussed the project’s communication and dissemination strategy, which aims to ensure visibility, stakeholder engagement, and long-term adoption of project results through coordinated outreach, digital platforms, promotional events, and EU-aligned visibility actions.
A Collaborative Vision for the Region
The Kick-off Meeting concluded with a synthesis of strategic plans, open Q&A, and agreement on upcoming responsibilities. Partners expressed strong enthusiasm for the project’s goals and the opportunity to strengthen academic capacities, digital competencies, and healthcare-related education in the Western Balkans.
In the closing remarks, representatives emphasized that AHEDIS is not only a higher education modernization project, it represents a transformative investment in digital health, innovation, and cross-border collaboration.
About the AHEDIS Consortium
The AHEDIS project is coordinated by the University of Sarajevo and implemented jointly with:
University of Banja Luka, University of Montenegro, University of Donja Gorica, University of Zagreb, University of Ljubljana, HTWG Konstanz (Germany), Verlab Institute, BRAVO BiH, JU Apoteke Sarajevo, Institute for Physical Medicine “Dr Miroslav Zotović”, and the Institute for Public Health of Montenegro.
The project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union under the call ERASMUS-EDU-2025-CBHE-STRAND-2.