The UB participates in UNIMED’s strategy to promote a new Pact for the Mediterranean in academia
News
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Academic
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International
(26/02/2025)
The University of Barcelona participated in the meeting of the international network UNIMED, in Brussels. This network is made up of universities from 24 countries with the aim of working on a greater cooperation between higher education institutions in the Mediterranean area. The aim of the conference was to gain first-hand knowledge of European policies and to be able to influence them. The sessions highlighted that UNIMED wants to actively participate in a new Pact for the Mediterranean between institutions and governments in the region. Some figures of programmes in which the UB collaborates, aimed at academics in regions at risk, were also presented.
News
|
Academic
|
International
26/02/2025
The University of Barcelona participated in the meeting of the international network UNIMED, in Brussels. This network is made up of universities from 24 countries with the aim of working on a greater cooperation between higher education institutions in the Mediterranean area. The aim of the conference was to gain first-hand knowledge of European policies and to be able to influence them. The sessions highlighted that UNIMED wants to actively participate in a new Pact for the Mediterranean between institutions and governments in the region. Some figures of programmes in which the UB collaborates, aimed at academics in regions at risk, were also presented.
The UB also announced that, in April, it will organize the first UNIMED Week in Spain, a new initiative with the aim of collaborating more actively with the other members of UNIMED in Spain. This project aims to make the other universities in Spain aware of the opportunities offered by UNIMED.
During the meeting, it was emphasized that the UNIMED network wants to actively participate in a Pact for the Mediterranean that would allow for the identification of shared priorities between different international organisations, such as the European Union and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), as well as with the governments of the region and groups of experts such as those of the European Institute of the Mediterranean. It was also stated that UNIMED aims to increase its membership to 200 members and is seeking more support from universities in central and northern Europe.
With this aim in mind, various working groups have been created — which the UB will join. During the sessions, members of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation also highlighted the actions presented in the framework of the African Union - European Union Innovation Agenda.
Regarding the support for academics from at-risk areas, the implementation of the Supporting At-Risk Researchers with Fellowships in Europe (SAFE) programme was evaluated. A total of 359 proposals were received, and the UB applied for a pre-doctoral researcher from Palestine as part of the UB Refugi programme. The meeting in Brussels also highlighted the participation of students in the Technical Education Support for Higher Education Students project (TESI), aimed at higher education students in Gaza. Over the past year, more than 14,000 students from Gaza have expressed an interest in continuing their studies, more than 600 online courses have been offered and some 2,000 students have been able to graduate.
The sessions included other topics such as discussion on the future of the Erasmus+ programme and the priorities for the multiannual financial framework 2028-2034. The Mediterranean Student Summit, a joint initiative of UNIMED and the European Student Network, which was held at the UB for the first time in 2022 and which will be held at the University of Girona in 2025, were also assessed.
The aim of the UNIMED network, of which the UB currently holds one of the two vice-presidencies, is to contribute to scientific, cultural, social and economic cooperation.
During the meeting, it was emphasized that the UNIMED network wants to actively participate in a Pact for the Mediterranean that would allow for the identification of shared priorities between different international organisations, such as the European Union and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), as well as with the governments of the region and groups of experts such as those of the European Institute of the Mediterranean. It was also stated that UNIMED aims to increase its membership to 200 members and is seeking more support from universities in central and northern Europe.
With this aim in mind, various working groups have been created — which the UB will join. During the sessions, members of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation also highlighted the actions presented in the framework of the African Union - European Union Innovation Agenda.
Regarding the support for academics from at-risk areas, the implementation of the Supporting At-Risk Researchers with Fellowships in Europe (SAFE) programme was evaluated. A total of 359 proposals were received, and the UB applied for a pre-doctoral researcher from Palestine as part of the UB Refugi programme. The meeting in Brussels also highlighted the participation of students in the Technical Education Support for Higher Education Students project (TESI), aimed at higher education students in Gaza. Over the past year, more than 14,000 students from Gaza have expressed an interest in continuing their studies, more than 600 online courses have been offered and some 2,000 students have been able to graduate.
The sessions included other topics such as discussion on the future of the Erasmus+ programme and the priorities for the multiannual financial framework 2028-2034. The Mediterranean Student Summit, a joint initiative of UNIMED and the European Student Network, which was held at the UB for the first time in 2022 and which will be held at the University of Girona in 2025, were also assessed.
The aim of the UNIMED network, of which the UB currently holds one of the two vice-presidencies, is to contribute to scientific, cultural, social and economic cooperation.