Trans-Mediterranean forum approves new HE measures

Five countries of the Arab Maghreb Union and five European countries have approved new measures as part of a two-year plan (2019-21) aimed at promoting cooperation in science, technology, innovation and higher education in the Western Mediterranean region.

The 10 countries are member states of the 5+5 Dialogue initiative, a sub-regional forum for dialogue more formally known as the Western Mediterranean Forum. The five Maghreb countries are Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia, while the five European countries include Western Mediterranean nations, namely, France, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain.

The Western Mediterranean Forum for Higher Education, Research and Innovation is committed to the promotion of research, innovation and higher education for social stability and economic growth.

The new measures, which include the establishment of academic, research and quality assurance networks were outlined in a Rome Declaration entitled "Strengthening cooperation in research, innovation and higher education for promoting sustainable economic growth, social inclusion and creating new opportunities for youth in the Western Mediterranean Region" and were approved at the fourth Ministerial Conference "5 + 5 Dialogue on Research, Innovation and Higher Education" held on 10 June in Rome, Italy.

Academic and research institutions

Led by Portugal and Tunisia, the higher education institutions within the 5+5 Dialogue will map institutions and research centres, as well as scientific and educational programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels – aimed at developing joint higher education programmes to tackle global challenges.

The network will develop joint PhD programmes, with joint supervision and with potential funding mechanisms, as well as enhancing innovation and knowledge transfer among universities and research centres.

It will also conduct a survey to retrieve information from the higher education institutions on actions to support students, including those moving from high school to university, and those entering the workforce.

Quality assurance

Led by France and Mauritania, a quality assurance network will be designed to promote common tools for institutional evaluation and guidelines for governance as well as identification of experts on quality assurance and governance-related issues.

The network is aimed at facilitating the mutual recognition of diplomas between the 5+5 countries based on common evaluation references and improving the mobility of researchers and students at regional level and between countries beyond the Mediterranean basin.

Sustainable blue growth

Led by Italy, the initiative on enhancing capacities and developing skills in sustainable ‘blue growth’ aims at promoting socio-economic development and creation of blue jobs in 5+5 Dialogue member countries and the Mediterranean region.

In addition to the establishment of an advanced masters programme on sustainable blue growth at the University of Trieste in Italy and a summer school on the sustainable blue economy in the Euro-Mediterranean region, the initiative focuses on improving research mobility through multi-lateral scholarships.

Blended learning

Led by Spain and Morocco, the blended learning initiative will focus on sharing experiences, educational material and IT support among higher education institutions and ministries in the Western Mediterranean region.

It will also facilitate workshops to understand current efforts, drivers and barriers, and opportunities for youth, the development of short pilot courses by sharing online modules and teachers in specific domains, and a final workshop to agree on practical recommendations for the future.

Open innovation

Projects aimed at enhancing national innovation systems geared towards the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals were included in the plan. They include an Innovation and Research Institute similar to the European Institute of Innovation and Technology which will help to facilitate innovation in the 5+5 Dialogue member countries, as well as the establishment of common platforms for open innovation and social innovation. This project is led by Tunisia.

Mauritania will host the fifth Conference of Ministers in charge of Research, Innovation and Higher Education in the 5+5 Dialogue Member Countries that will be held in 2021 in Nouakchott.