The project “Analysis and Design of waste management systems in transition Economies of Central and Eastern Europe (ADECEE)” is a collaboration of TU Wien (TUW, Austria) and University of Novi Sad (UNS, Serbia) carried out mainly by the Institute for Water Quality, Resource and Waste Management (TUW) and the Department of Environmental Engineering (UNS). The proposed project on solid waste and resource management (SWRM) strengthens TUW’s strategic research focus on energy and environment. In particular, it contributes to the research fields of “efficient utilisation of material resources” and “sustainable production and technologies”. The cooperation with UNS is attractive also from a geopolitical perspective, because TU Wien aims to establish its position as a bridge to Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). For UNS, the project will not only be an important step towards a further internationalization, but also strengthen its position as one of the leading Universities in the field of SWRM in the West Balkan region. The methodological framework of the project is constituted by action research, as phases of active research and development are formally divided by critical reflection and discussion activities. In combination with stakeholder involvement (e.g. authorities and regulators, companies, researchers and educators), the iterative nature of this framework provides the ideal basis for developing a tailor-made program on the analysis and design of waste management systems in transition economies of CEE. The project is divided into three phases. In the first phase, a needs assessment is performed to identify the required competences to be acquired during the postgraduate program. Based on this assessment the content of the postgraduate program is developed in the second phase, integrating existing courses as well as creating new courses at both universities. In the third and final phase (second year), the postgraduate program is implemented with courses held at both universities. The results of the project will be disseminated in national stakeholder workshops and at international conferences. Finally, the initiated postgraduate program is evaluated by the project consortium and potentials for sustaining the program as well as for integrating courses into the universities’ teaching portfolios are outlined.