The project also will address two other overarching priorities of the EU indirectly – Digital transformation and Sustainable growth and jobs. As digital transformation is one of the key developments of modern-day politics, analyzing politics in the digital era also requires sophisticated digital skills. By providing training courses in research methods using digital tools, the project will foster digital transformation in political science education and research in the EaP countries. In parallel the platform for open-access publication will be established to promote accessibility of research evidence in the PS field. Beyond the empowerment of digital skills and digital literacy in political science, given the joint nature of the MA Program, the project will ensure the development of the connectivity solution for distance learning. This will make sure that students of the MA Program located in different countries have access to the courses offered by the institution in another country. There is a specific WP designated in the project, which will be working specifically on digital assistance to the teaching process.

As for the indirect contribution to the priority of Sustainable growth and jobs, this project primarily invests in young people by providing a unique opportunity to obtain European quality education in political science in EaP countries. Furthermore, the first part of the project provides opportunities for the academic staff of the MA program to develop new courses. This implies organizing joint workshops for discussing the structure and contents of the courses by exchanging the experience between the academics from Western European institutions and that of the institutions from the third countries involved in the project. While the consortium made sure to select the best specialists of the field as the academic staff of the joint MA program, with this activity the project also contributes to the aspect of teacher training by further increasing the capacity of local academic professionals.

The following entities will participate in the action as associated partners:

• OSCE Academy in Bishkek (OSCE Academy),
• European Neighbourhood Council (ENC)
• Open Governance Academy (OGA)
• International Political Science Association (IPSA)