The Tempus IV project "Western Balkan Rural Extension Network through Curriculum Reform" will address the deficiency and need for rural development curriculum reform in the Western Balkan region through the training, development, and implementation of rural development programs following 2 streams: formal and non-formal rural development education.The WBREN consortium will achieve these ambitious objectives by engaging leading acadmics, researchers, and practicers from the European Union and Western Balkan region (specifically, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, fYROM, and Serbia). Over the 3 year project period, the proposed consortium will be host to several intensive trainings and development workshops, with special focus on developing the capacities of current formal and non formal education providers. The final outputs of developing the capacities within these two streams will be the creation of the Specialization in Rural Development (formal education) and modular based rural development training programs (to be delivered through non formal education channels).Ultimately, the synergies generated through these intensive and cooperative trainings will lead to a strengthened rural development network within the Western Balkan region (and thus, the creation of the Western Balkan Rural Extension Network). In this way, higher education institutions in the Western Balkan region can become the foundation from which sound and meaningful rural development policies shape the progress of its rural communities, while enhancing the ability of its emerging leaders to meet the demanding requirements for EU integration.