Within the project MMWD, a study visit to Salzburg University of Applied Science was organized with the purpose of upgrading the knowledge and experience of interested project partners, based on the results of need assessment conducted in the previous phases of the project. The goals of the study visit were to upgrade the knowledge and capacity in domain of population projections development and to contribute to the quality of policy scenario that is being developed for the territory of Sumadija and Pomoravlje, as to achieve its significance as a strategic planning tool.

The study visit lasted from 3 to 7 February and was organised and hosted by SUAS. The partners from Serbia: Regional Economic Development Agency for Sumadija and Pomoravlje - REDASP and Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia – SORS, as well as from Slovenia School for Advanced Social Studies – SASS and Regional development agency of Northern Primorska Ltd Nova Gorica – RRAG received a valuable know-how from the best experts within the MMWD partnership in domain of development of policy scenarios. Shared experience and discussions among participants provided a deeper and more detailed insight into methodology and essence of using population projections data, combined with identified key factors of development in the process of policy scenario development. Furthermore, the significance of policy scenarios as strategic planning tool was elaborated between the experts in social studies, statistical processes and territory development advisers. The shortages of the evidence and procedures available and used by Serbian and Slovenian partners were identified, while the most practical information and best practices provided at the study visit, were the opportunity to find out models of how to make up for the lack of data and upgrade structures for policy scenario development and their use in strategic palnning.