Medicine is currently undergoing a major revolution that is gradually transforming the nature of healthcare from reactive to preventive. The changes are catalyzed by a new systems approach to disease that have triggered the emergence of keeping people healthy and active since, as this will in the long run have a positive impact on productivity and competitiveness. However, developing, managing and exploring integrated models of service delivery and cooperation across many sectors is challenging.Montenegro (ME) is a small country facing rapid changes and development challenges in all areas that are relevant for societal progress and prosperity. PH-ELIM project is focused on enhancement of educational system in public health in ME in accordance with well known EU best practices, thus providing education of public health professionals making them highly skilled to support own nation in creating sustainable and flexible health system, providing good quality health, protecting of citizens against health threats, all by cost-effective and straightforward approach. The continual sustainable educational approach will be developed at all levels, from undergraduate to PHD at four ME HEIs (through creation/improvements of 25 courses, established new Master program in health economy and management, and updated one PhD program) in interdisciplinary fields of public health law, economy and management, ICTs and medicine; all adopted to ME specificities, including evidence-based approach through innovative National Platform for Education and Research in Public Health, with full support of national ministries and HEI society in ME.Finally, carefully selected raising awareness campaigns about health prevention and public health promotion will be implemented among ME citizens (including children, youth, workforce, elder population, vulnerable groups, etc.), while sustainable long-term activities are ensured through newly established Center for Public Health Education in ME.

The BeWell@DIGITAL project is aimed at improving the status of mental health of youth (from Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania) by empowering young people to enhance skills in digital educational routine and career development, creation of supportive peer-to-peer counselling mental health services and creation of new capacity building and employment opportunities for youth in digital working arena, all enhanced by innovative non-formal education experiences, new mobile tools and digital solutions, and open dialogue at local and national level that will reflect on broader EU area.In the digital era, most of the world is connected to the Internet but the dependence of technologies, together with the pandemic, changes in routine and increase in uncertainty, is leading young people to develop more symptoms of anxiety, depression and interruption of sleep patterns, even triggering cyberbullying and distortion of body image.The COVID-19 global health emergency and its economic and social impacts have disrupted nearly all aspects of life for all groups in society. For young people, especially vulnerable youth, the COVID-19 crisis poses considerable risks in the fields of education, employment, mental health and disposable income. The BeWell@DIGITAL will:- deliver an awareness campaign on mental health, wellbeing issues and mixed skills in the digital era,- pilot a Western Balkans network for youth support and digital (peer) counselling service centres with new youth employment opportunities, - develop digital tools for youth (learning platform, information portal with live chat support, mobile app for integration of lifestyle data for monitoring wellbeing index),- conduct capacity building opportunities for youth (Green Camp, training for youth advisors, etc.)It is expected to reach about 10.000 youth in Western Balkans altogether, who are also the main beneficiaries. The project outputs are intended to remain available to youth long term.

Digitalization has been in the epicenter of interest during the hard times of COVID-19 and has enabled governments and individuals to cope with the scientific and socio-economic problems created by the pandemic. Both, basic and advanced digital technologies, as well as digital skills have been engaged to sustain the functioning of the economy and society by allowing the work to continue, tracking the spread of the virus, and accelerating research for medications and vaccines. COVID-19 pandemic has shown, more than anything else, the utmost importance of digital assets and the need for further development towards a resilient digital transformation. Strengthening the digital economy and society has been one of the 6 strategic priorities of the 2021 European Commission work programme with a goal of making this Europe’s digital decade. Digitalization is the relevant issue in EU associated countries as well. Digital transformation might help EU associated countries to speed up convergence project and catch up developed EU economies. Even particularly topical problem is digitalization in developing countries. The digital transformation and its support would lead to higher economic growth and, sustainable development and the increasing of the quality of life. The proposed project is as timely as ever considering the current situation of digitalization in the EU, EU associated countries (Montenegro) and developing countries in Southeast Asia region (Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand). The focus of the project is the cooperation of the academic staff and doctoral students to engage in the research in the field of digitalization, exchange their knowledge, ideas, and provide meaningful outputs and establish research collaboration in the field of digitalization.