Transport is of vital importance for promoting different aspects of human life, like connectivity, trade, economic prosperity, employment, etc. However, transport imposes significant different consequences. The transport sector is responsible for around one third of global energy consumption and about a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, this sector has proven difficult to decarbonise, and has not shown significant decreases in GHG emissions since 1990 as other sectors have.

As a response to the threat of climate changes, the European Commission (EC) officially adopted the European Union (EU) Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change in 2021. The new EU Adaptation Strategy links directly to recent global agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Sustainable Development Agenda as well as the EU implementation of these goals. It also connects directly to major EU initiatives like the Mission for a Climate resilient Europe and the Union’s sustainable finance agenda. The European Green Deal (announced in December 2019) presents the Commission’s plan for a sustainable green transition. At the heart of the Green Deal, the first European Climate Law proposal establishes the framework for achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The European Green Deal’s Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy includes a mobility system that is sustainable, smart, and resilient: a system for future generations. In addition, the Council Recommendation on learning for the green transition (2022) emphasizes the need to provide learners of all ages with opportunities to find out about the climate crisis and sustainability in both formal education and non-formal education, and to make learning for the green transition a priority in education and training policies and programmes. Sustainability should become part of the entire spectrum of education and training, including curricula, professional development for educators as well as buildings, infrastructure and operations.

One of the main aspects of sustainable development is sustainable transport (ST) that includes objectives such as universal access, improved safety and resilience, enhanced efficiency and reduced environmental and climate impact. Providing services and infrastructure for mobility of people and goods is not the only role of ST, moreover it has a positive impact on acceleration on the progress of other crucial issues that reached global proportions, such as exterminating poverty in all its forms, reducing inequality amongst people, strengthening position of women in the society and mitigating the impact of climate change. As such, ST it is crucial for the accomplishment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the EU initiatives and strategies (Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change, Green deal, the Paris Agreement etc.). The EU has long identified ST as one of the priorities for the decarbonization of transport in all Member States.

Between 2010 and 2019, transport CO2 emissions have increased in all regions, except Europe, where they decreased for 2%, a drop attributed to advanced fuel economy regulations and advancing initiatives on sustainable urban mobility. The Central Asian and West Balkan regions, which includes Uzbekistan and Kosovo* (hereinafter PC countries), have not sufficiently adopted the concept of ST.

Current risks of climate changes, challenges and barriers for the implementation of ST have initiated the preparation of the SPHERE project. Introduction of new technologies in Uzbekistan and Kosovo* is still in developmental phase – with very poor economic, technical and educational environment for their application. Education system is not sufficiently developed and adapted to new challenges, and is extremely incompatible in terms of supporting the achievement of the green transition goals in the field of ST.

A comprehensive transition to ST still faces considerable obstacles, despite the fact that many conventional transport systems are changing. This transformation can be advanced through the education and the improvement of study programmes and through the raising public awareness of the importance of ST.

Unlike other WB countries which have already developed courses/curricula in the area of sustainable transport, Kosovo* HEIs lack such courses. On the other hand, Uzbek HEIs also are facing similar situation in the area of traffic engineering and sustainable transport. This is the common characteristic of both PC which presents the basis for collaboration of our HEIs and justifies the preparation of the cross-regional project in order to develop curricula related to ST. For these reasons five out of six PC HEIs will accredit completely new study programmes related to ST. Namely, students do not have the opportunity to acquire adequate competencies and skills in the field of ST. Furthermore, there are no adequate laboratories and practical classes for where students could be on situ become familiar with the concept of the ST. It is necessary to transfer innovative and newly developed technologies and know-how best practices from EU to Uzbekistan and Kosovo* HEIs in the field of the ST by developing comprehensive curricula. EU HEIs have the significant experience in successful education of students in the field of ST, advanced knowledge, qualified experts, modern laboratories and rich experience in development and modernisation of study programmes. Experiences from EU HEIs are valuable and necessary for the introduction of the up-to-date courses in curricula. Uzbekistan and Kosovo* HEIs lack the necessary skills to build state-of-the-art laboratories supporting HE field of the ST. Currently, there are no other available national sources of funding that could significantly increase the developmental level of the Uzbekistan and Kosovo* HEIs.