CORRIENTE XXI aims to support the needs of both Peru and Ecuador towards the sustainable management of aquatic (both marine and freshwater) ecosystems and resources, both nationally and in a trans-boundary context. Aquatic ecosystems harbour unique biodiversity and provide key ecosystem services to people. The core idea of CORRIENTE XXI is that investment in all aspects of the HE curriculum, its research-basis, its improved international embedding, its emphasis on new teaching approaches are the primary trigger for eventual preparedness of the policy-communities , in both countries as well as jointly, to (aquatic) environmental challenges related to the 21st century. CORRIENTE XXI addresses pressing environmental issues by providing 1) research-based academic training ; 2) a framework for transboundary HEI cooperation towards science-based solutions to shared challenges, as a policy-support; 3) an uplift and academisation of teaching personnel and improved student in/through/outflow quality.CORRIENTE XXI will result in two new Master programmes in Ecuador and three updated Master programmes in both countries. Activities (workshops, staff trainings, job-shadowing activities, an integrative conference, an innovative job fair, a Summer School) will train Peruvian and Ecuadorian staff with innovative and integrative skills, providing outputs like training modules for fieldwork practices and curriculum development, innovative pedagogical skills, transferrable and dissemination skills, training tool-kits, e-learning platform and a portfolio of competences. CORRIENTE XXI will lift the quality level of the involved master programmes, increase employability and raise awareness on the importance of aquatic sciences and management; translating to more effective guidelines for policy and management both nationally and in transboundary regions and increasing (inter)national scientific collaboration.