University Cooperation Across the Mediterranean: the University of Bologna in Tunisia

 The institutional mission of the University of Bologna in Tunisia has concluded, marking a new step towards strengthening collaboration between the University of Bologna, Tunisian universities and institutions. The visit aimed to consolidate existing institutional synergies, enhance ongoing projects in various disciplinary fields – including educational sciences, archaeology, agricultural sciences, arts, and political sciences – and promote new joint initiatives.

The Vice-Rector for International Relations, Professor Raffaella Campaner, and the Delegate for Cooperation and Development, Professor Karin Pallaver represented the University of Bologna. During meetings with the Governance of the University of Carthage and University of Tunis El Manar, strategies were discussed and shared for the implementation of future activities, including multidisciplinary educational projects and mobility programmes for students, faculty, and technical-administrative staff.

The initiatives planned for 2025 will be supported by two of the projects awarded to the University of Bologna under the PNRR Transnational Education call: SHARE-AFRICA, coordinated by the Italian Higher Education with Africa Foundation – IHEA, and MARE, coordinated by the University of Palermo.

During the mission, meetings were held with the Italian diplomatic representatives in Tunisia. Professors Campaner and Pallaver met with Alessandro Prunas, the Italian Ambassador to Tunis, and Anna Veronica Gianasso, Head of the Consular Chancery, to discuss opportunities for scientific cooperation between Italy and Tunisia. Together with Fabio Ruggirello, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Tunis, they defined methods for designing, implementing, and promoting joint cultural initiatives.

Institutional dialogues continued with a visit to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The ongoing dialogue with Malek Kochlef, Director of International Cooperation at the Ministry, addressed topics such as innovation in international education, mobility between Africa and Europe and within Africa, the role of scientific diplomacy, and educational challenges in the global political landscape.