Research partnership to focus on combating terrorism

The Mohamed Lamine Debaghine Sétif 2 University, located in Algeria, 300km east of the capital of Algiers, is calling for applications for a new masters degree focused on the prevention and combating of terrorism and extremism as part of an international research project funded by Italy.

The PRaNet project (Prevention of Radicalisation Network) entails the creation of a university network involving the Italian University of Bergamo, which will lead the consortium, and two universities from countries belonging to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) – Azerbaijan (ADA University of Baku) and Algeria (Mohamed Lamine Debaghine Sétif 2 University).

The objective is the deepening of knowledge and understanding of the phenomenon of radicalisation, the development of social inclusion and deradicalisation policies and improvement of integration, through post-university education activities and academic research over a three-year period from 2019 to 2021.

The project is financed by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research and by the Conference of Italian University Rectors (CRUI).

As a coordinating member, the Mohamed Lamine Debaghine Sétif 2 University is represented by Dr Nawel Abdellatif Mami, deputy director in charge of external relations and the initiator of the project at the national level.

The PRaNet project focuses on counter-terrorism policy, extremism and social integration policy, with a particular focus on the Algerian experience in this area.

The second session of this project will commence in November at the Mohamed Lamine Debaghine Sétif 2 University.

In line with the strategy for the promotion abroad of Italian higher education (2017-20) – a plan jointly shared by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Ministry of Education, University and Research – the PRaNet project aims at developing the ability to promote abroad the Italian system of higher education and research, in order to increase the number and quality of international students at the University of Bergamo, as well as to promote excellence in the field of international studies and align with deradicalisation policies in the EU, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) area and the OIC countries.

The objective of the project is to strengthen bilateral ties with partner countries in political, scientific, cultural and economic sectors.

In accordance with these goals, the PRaNet project involves university education (the MaRTe masters programme) and vocational training activities (professionalisation courses) as well as international research activities on the themes of terrorism, radicalisation, integration and deradicalisation policies.