Μετάβαση στο περιεχόμενο

Briefing paper: Building a bridge towards Africa and the Mediterranean Region (2021)

  • Global partnerships
  • Audiovisual materials
  • Report
  • Academics
  • Researchers
  • Administrators
  • Policy makers

Building partnerships with African and Mediterranean universities outside Europe is an importantstrategic aim of CIVIS and one of its distinct features as a European University alliance (1). By 2022, the end of CIVIS’ “fabric phase”, our alliance seeks to win at least one partner institution in the target regions for each of its established thematic Hubs (2). This implies initiating some first joint pilot projects as well as to prepare and adopt longer-term strategic partnership agreements between CIVIS and partner universities.

Building partnerships with African and Mediterranean universities outside Europe is an importantstrategic aim of CIVIS and one of its distinct features as a European University alliance (1). By 2022, the end of CIVIS’ “fabric phase”, our alliance seeks to win at least one partner institution in the target regions for each of its established thematic Hubs (2). This implies initiating some first joint pilot projects as well as to prepare and adopt longer-term strategic partnership agreements between CIVIS and partner universities (CIVIS 2018: 40-42).

The briefing paper aims at introducing the CIVIS community to this sub-project of our alliance. After sketching the existing links of individual CIVIS universities to Africa and the Mediterranean area, it looks at the way a collective approach to partnership development may contribute to the profile of CIVIS and benefit potential partner institutions. Subsequently, the report outlines CIVIS’ approach to building these partnerships, including an overview of possible partner institutions, and the planned activities in the process ahead.

See a video of the discussion and find other resources below

Other resources

  • The Aix-Marseille Polycrisis Declaration (June 2026)

    The Aix-Marseille Polycrisis Declaration is the outcome of the final conference of the PolyCIVIS Jean Monnet Network, a partnership of 21 African and European universities, most of them part of CIVIS Alliance. The declaration addresses the growing reality of the “polycrisis,” in which conflict, climate change, forced migration, economic insecurity, governance challenges, and social inequalities interact and reinforce one another. Recognising that young people are disproportionately affected by these interconnected crises, the declaration emphasises the need for stronger Africa–Europe cooperation and places youth agency, participation, and leadership at the center of responses to contemporary global challenges.
    • Global partnerships
    • Polycrisis
    • Policy recommendations
    • Students
    • Academics
    • Researchers
    • Civil society
    • Policy makers
    See more
  • European Universities alliances: Impact, Insights, and the Road Ahead (April 2026)

    Since the launch of the European Universities initiative in 2019, alliances such as CIVIS have moved well beyond experimentation and are already transforming higher education. That was the clear message from the keynote panel held on 28 April, 2026 in Brussels as part of the CIVIS Units Summit, which brought together representatives from EU institutions, researchers and alliance leaders to take stock of achievements and challenges ahead and discuss with over 70 CIVIS Staff members about the future of alliances.
    • European Degree
    • European Universities initiative
    • Communication and Dissemination
    • Article
    • Audiovisual materials
    • Video
    • Students
    • Academics
    • Researchers
    • Administrators
    • Policy makers
    See more