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[ ro ](https://civis.eu/ro/the-civis-newsroom/civis-conference-in-marseille-leads-debate-on-future-of-african-europe-relations-in-higher-education) 1. [The CIVIS Newsroom ](https://civis.eu/en/the-civis-newsroom) 2. CIVIS leads debate on future of African-Europe relations in higher education CIVIS leads debate on future of African-Europe relations in higher education ============================================================================== General 19 April 2022 **In March 2022, Aix-Marseille Université hosted a 3-day CIVIS event in cooperation with the French Presidency of the Council of the European University. The conference, mixing public and closed sessions, explored whether European Universities could offer a new dynamic for the European-African partnership. No less than 130 participants representing academia and policy on both sides of the Mediterranean joined the debate, while also witnessing the launch of CIVIS' new partnership programme with 6 prestigious African universities.** ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/group-photo-africanuniversities-signing.jpeg) ### Day 1: The beginnings of a successful collaboration The event started on 9 March 2022 with an internal workshop reuniting CIVIS member universities and African partner universities. Both sides were invited to discuss the developing partnership and reflect on how it could benefit all members of our communities in terms of training, mobility and research. In the evening, an Opening Ceremony officially launched the public programme of the event. Guests were welcomed by CIVIS leaders and heard speeches from representatives of Marseille's local and regional political ecosystem. Video messages from senior French and EU policymakers showed the level of interest the conference provoked, and the relevance of the topic for broader policy discussions. ![](/storage/files/day1-afternoon-9march.jpg) ### Day 2: Public conference 'European Universities between territorial integration and global ambition' The public conference gathered speakers from African universities, the European Commission, and various European University Alliances. The event featured fascinating speeches and conversations, including two roundtables about how university alliances can shape the future of Africa-Europe relations. Discussions focused on higher education and the global challenges which deeper collaboration could help overcome. ##### **In pictures** ![](/storage/files/img-0192_1.jpg) ![](/storage/files/public-conf-2.jpg) ![](/storage/files/public-conf-6.jpg) ![](/storage/files/public-conf-1.jpg) ![](/storage/files/public-conf-3.jpg) ![](/storage/files/public-conf-5.jpg) ![](/storage/files/public-conf-7.jpg) ![](/storage/files/public-conf-4.jpg) ##### **Rewatch the Public Conference** ##### **Rewatch the Panel Session** [EXPLORE THE PROGRAMME OF THE PUBLIC CONFERENCE](https://civis.eu/en/events/european-universities-between-territorial-integration-and-global-ambition-a-new-dynamic-for-the-europe-africa-partnership) ### Day 3: Signing our ambitious partnership agreement The three days culminated in the signing of a partnership agreement between 6 African universities and the CIVIS member universities. This agreement commits the signatories to an ambitious agenda for partnership over the coming years, offering a framework for exciting and innovative new collaborations. The resulting joint activities promise huge benefits for the students, academics and broader communities of the participating universities, and will serve as a laboratory for enhanced HE cooperation between Europe and Africa. ![](/storage/files/signing-11march.jpg) On this final day CIVIS also issued a position paper calling for a European University Initiative which leaves ample space for partnerships between European and global univeristies. [READ OUR PRESS RELEASE ABOUT THE AGREEMENT AND POSITION PAPER](https://civis.eu/en/news/press-release-ever-closer-cooperation-among-european-universities-must-not-close-the-door-on-global-partnerships) Related news ------------ - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/nat4dd-team-800x600.jpg?token=19580f3566e7e590a42ea7ae6661cd46)New CIVIS Joint Master’s Programme NAT4DD Earns European Approach Accreditation Study programmes 5 October 2026 ](https://civis.eu/en/the-civis-newsroom/nat4dd-new-civis-joint-master-s-programme-earns-aqas-accreditation) - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/africa-charter1-800x600.jpg?token=d5b695acf9ecf4d0c38f220871c1b81c)Equity by Design: Implementing the Africa Charter in African-European Partnerships Associate Member Universities in Africa 30 September 2026 ](https://civis.eu/en/the-civis-newsroom/equity-by-design-implementing-the-africa-charter-in-african-european-partnerships) - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/greencarb7-800x600.jpg?token=712f0b091be488273795e6069fdecb4c)Tracing carbon in Greenland’s melting fjords CIVIS Highlights 28 September 2026 ](https://civis.eu/en/the-civis-newsroom/tracing-carbon-in-greenland-s-melting-fjords) [Discover all our stories](https://civis.eu/en/the-civis-newsroom) [ RIS4CIVIS event explores cross-border R&I in the European Universities Initiative ](< https://civis.eu/en/the-civis-newsroom/ris4civis-event-explores-cross-border-randi-in-the-european-universities-initiative >) [ CIVIS training explores the traces and lessons of 20th-century totalitarianism ](< https://civis.eu/en/the-civis-newsroom/civis-training-explore-the-traces-and-lessons-of-20th-totalitarianism-at-camp-des-milles >) ![CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance](https://civis.eu/build/assets/civis-CCpvK1nT.svg) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Europe’s Civic University Alliance ![Co-funded by the European Union](https://civis.eu/build/assets/co-funded-by-the-european-union-DSKLW1us.png)Views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). 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