PACTUM project aims at providing a high-quality, multidisciplinary and stimulating one-year master programme in social, political and behavioural sciences. The goal here is to develop an innovative approach that might create positive effects both for the Tunisian teaching staff and the students. With regard to the former, the opportunity to establish and cultivate contacts with important European universities and professors could be relevant to learn new methodological techniques and develop a broader and more comparativist approach to the study of social, and more specifically political, sciences. In a similar way, also European instructors might benefit much from Tunisian academic staff, due to their skills and knowledge of the cultural and political environment. Coming to Tunisian students, instead, the establishment of a new master, prevalently (although not entirely) taught in English and with a specific focus on political science, sociology, science of the administration, and international relations provides opportunity to find a job both in the public and private sector, considering the particularly challenging environment for young graduate students. A closely connected goal here is to train tomorrow’s public employees in order to enhance the professionalization of the bureaucratic body and its capacity to formulate, implement, and evaluate public policies. However, more short-terms goal are presented as well in the project. In fact, from the third year on, through summer schools dedicated (although not specifically) to public employees, there is an attempt to improve immediately the skills and capacity of the bureaucracy in Tunisia.

The project’s overall goal was to enhance capacity building in Higher Education ensuring high quality educational curricula that meets professionals, employers and socio-economic needs of Tunisia during a timeframe of 42 months, from 15th October 2017 to 14th April 2021.The specific objectives were:•To update Master curricula and improve the quality of teaching and learning at the University of Tunis El Manar, University of Sfax, University of Carthage in line with the Bologna Process requirements and the Europe 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth;•To build a more collaborative network between HEIs and local institutions/companies on integrated water and agro-ecosystem management.MAYA aimed at increasing the professionalism of young students by supporting the development of a new postgraduate Master on integrated water and agriculture management (IWAM) in the three involved Tunisian universities. In particular, the project intended to improve institutional and individual capacities and reduce the existing Tunisian constraints linked to the lack of scientific knowledge and technical expertise able to cope with complex issues. The new curriculum focused specifically on the innovative approaches to manage quality and quantity of water resources and on the existing linkages between agriculture, water management and environment. The project has been developed carrying out the following steps:1) An updated needs assessment of the curricula of the involved Tunisian universities related to water and agroecosystem management has been done at project beginning;2) three new high quality Masters on IWAM has been defined, developed and accredited in July 2019, one in each Tunisian Universities3) a new e-learning environment was implemented and new e-learning materials were created by the European HEIs; 10 e-learning modules were uploaded in the interactive e-learning platform, created and used to link the learning activities among the local HEIs and disseminate results and knowledge to other Tunisian universities and stakeholders;4) 30 Tunisian teachers were involved in an active training where they learnt new teaching and learning methodologies in the field of agricultural and water management; 5) 74 students have been enrolled (in total of the 2 Master edition) in the GIREAD Master advancing their technical skills on techniques and instrument for new IWAM strategies;6) a VR educational game has been developed on water analysis management in a scientific virtual laboratory, enhancing students’ cognitive capacities.7) 17 professors and 51 students participated in the field visits in the North and South of Tunisia realised by the three Tunisian Universities, despite the difficulties linked to the COVID19 pandemic. It was an enriching and fundamental experience to complete and better understand classroom studies. The practical use of the Trimble Juno GPS and the 3320 multiparameter probe gave to the student the opportunity to use part of the equipment not only in class but also in the field.The project was carried out following Workpackages:1. Preparation - Needs assessment2. Development - Curricula Development3. Development – Master Accreditation4. Development - Implementation of learning environment5. Development - Teaching and learning activities6. Development - Implementation of the new Master on Integrated Water and AgricultureManagement (IWAM) - Gestion IntégRée de l'Eau et Agriculture Durable (GIREAD)7. Quality Plan8. Dissemination and Exploitation – Dissemination and collaborative network9. Management – Project management

Since the outbreak of the so-called “refugee crisis” in 2015, European Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have made considerable efforts to facilitate access for newcomers, through a constellation of actions in different domains: financial support, admission procedures, recognition of qualifications, language and psychological support, to mention a few. Most of these initiatives took a bottom-up approach, as an immediate and emergency response to a crisis situation. Although they have undoubtedly contributed to building more inclusive HEIs and connecting universities with civil society actors, few of them have been underpinned by a central strategic approach and planning, paving the way for a holistic and sustainable institutional response.Much remains to be done for universities to fully embrace a 360-degree approach to the phenomenon of migration, that goes beyond immediate initiatives and builds inclusive HEIs and societies, taking responsibility for the important societal challenges facing European countries.UNI(di)VERSITY aims to develop the social responsibility of European HEIs in the field of migration, with a view to promoting the social inclusion of migrants and refugees, through:- A systematic mapping and analysis of European HEIs’ approaches to migration as part of their social responsibility and diversity approaches;- An awareness campaign to encourage a nuanced and evidence-based debate about migration and diversity amongst the academic community and the public;- The design and validation of a set of instruments to support university staff and services in their efforts to integrate issues related to migration and diversity in different areas, grounded in a 360-degree approach;- A Staff Training intervention aimed at empowering academic and administrative staff to develop sustainable strategies for integrating migration issues at all levels of institutional activities;- The release of a comprehensive Strategic Framework aimed at providing a multicriteria decision-making methodology for socially responsible universities in the era of migration.The 2-year project envisages four intellectual outputs that represent an innovative blend of different activities: 1) an analytical atlas of HEIs’ actions and strategies in the field of migration; 2) an awareness campaign entitled #uni4diversity; 3) a toolkit for university staff and services; 4) a strategic framework for socially responsible universities in the era of migration.The project intervention will increase knowledge, inspire commitment, sensitise, and empower at least five hundred European HEIs leaders, managers and staff from different structures (governance bodies, third mission office, international relations office, student services, faculty and research department leaders) in relation to migration issues, to act as agents of change in their own institutions and academic community, and throughout Europe.

Productive land resources in Egypt are under multiple natural and human pressure that are leading to soil degradation and desertification. Agriculture land conservation is a high priority for Egypt. Several efforts have been undertaken by the government authorities of Egypt to reduce desertification processes and preserve land productivity but they have faced a wide range of obstacles, mostly related to : i) improper and irrational land use policy and planning; ii) lack of scientific knowledge and technical expertise to cope with complex problems; iii) absence of national, regional and international networking and an ineffective mechanisms for technology transfer, exchange of experience and cooperation at different levels. ILHAMEC project is intended to develop a postgraduate Master on Sustainable Land Management (SLM) within the curricula of four Egyptian universities supported by three EU ones adopting the strategy to first train teachers. During its life time, the consortium envisages to reach many results such as: studies, surveys, access to open digital contents, web learning tools, teachers training materials, an educational web-based simulation game on SLM, educational innovative video-lessons, new Master curricula, workshops and seminars. All the resources will be accessed easily, reused and adapted by the project target groups (mainly teachers, students and HEIs) at local, regional, national and European levels. Sustainability will be ensured by identifying individuals and groups or institutions that will take over its animation and moderation. ILHAMEC will have a strong impact within the same partners of the Consortium through the process of sharing knowledge, challenges and solutions. Additional stakeholders will benefit from the project as the main outcome is to spread knowledge and awareness on SLM issues and on the importance to improve quality in HEIs for increasing technical and analytic skills of young students.

EuNIT targets the management and operation of HEIs in Jordan, Lebanon and Libya by focusing on increasing their international activity. In order for HEIs in these countries to increase their participation in international cooperation projects and benefit from opportunities available to them through programmes such as Erasmus+, H2020 and ENI, they require greater expertise in project design and management. EuNIT aims to equip these HEIs with the necessary skills and resources. It will produce:- A comprehensive training programme for 24 selected staff from 8 partner HEIs in Jordan, Lebanon and Libya, combining theory, practical work and international travel, adapted to the needs of South Mediterranean HEIs to enable them to increase their participation in EU initiatives and international cooperation.- 8 EU project design and management units dedicated to EU cooperation and research projects set up in partner HEIs in Jordan, Lebanon and Libya.- A regional network bringing together HEIs in the South Mediterranean region for the exchange of good practices and experience in project design and management.- 2 external training sessions run by Jordanian, Lebanese and Libyan trainers reaching out to HEIs across Jordan, Lebanon & Libya targeting 80 staff.- Massive Open Online Courses in EU project design and management accessible to all HEIs.The project aims to impact the 8 partner HEIs from Jordan, Lebanon and Libya. Then, the dissemination strategy will enable activities to reach firstly all HEIs in Jordan, Lebanon and Libya and secondly other Patner Countries in the South Mediterranean region. HEIs in the countries concerned should become more independent in designing and managing EU projects, being able to increase the amount of project applications they submit, and targeting more closely their needs in terms of developing and modernising their HEI. To this effect, HEIs in the South Mediterranean region will be able to develop sustainable international partnerships.