The projects’ main thrust is to improve the quality of higher professional and vocational education in the RF to qualify graduates for the real demands of the labour market, i.e. to improve their employability and to further facilitate internationalisation of Russian HE as well as improve coordination and adaptation between HE and the society at large.In particular, the project is aiming to develop and implement a region-specific Qualifications Framework (QF) for Higher Education (Bachelor /Master Degrees) in the field of Ecology and Environmental Management (EEM), adjusted to the needs of the regional labour markets and in line with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). Guided by EQF and NQF standards several data bases will be created as the foundation for the production of a manual on the construction and implementation of a region-specific QF. The Qualifications Framework for Ecology and Environmental Management (QualFEEM) will be applied and probated at partner institutions (TSU, NSU, OSPU, ASU). Thus, the QualFEEM will be a competence-based (regional) model correlating with the EQF and the National Professional Standards of RF. The QualFEEM will constitute a normative model for interaction of HEIs and labour markets being applicable to other qualifications and other subject areas as well.Integration of the new approaches into teaching practices will imply restructuring of teaching and learning in Bachelor and Master Programmes in the field of EEM and will lead to changes in the university management and academics’ culture and the creation of teaching resources related to the new practice oriented interdisciplinary modules. It will also lead to the impovement of the infrastructures for quality assurance and internationalisation, as well as furhther development of continuing prrofessional education. The increasing engagement of teaching staff and students in the internationalisation of education will demand intensive language training (RIIC) at Tyumen State University (TSU) and similarly at partner institutions.In general, the whole philosophy of the project, its objectives and outcomes are aimed at practical implementation and further dissemination of the European Higher Education and work policies to encrease transnational mobility of workers and learners in knowledge-based societies.