UNIMED - Mediterranean Universities Union

National Network
Italy
Address

Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 244
00186 ROMA
Italy

Telephone
+390668581430
E-Mail
unimed@uni-med.net
Organisation Type
Non-Governmental Organization
Year of Establishment
1991
Fields of Activity
  1. Youth and education
General Information
UNIMED, the Mediterranean Universities Union, founded in October 1991, is an association of Universities from the countries of the Mediterranean basin (www.uni-med.net ). It currently counts 108 associated Universities coming from 23 countries of both shores of Mediterranean (data updated to March 2018). UNIMED’s aim is to develop university research and education in the Euro-Mediterranean area in order to contribute to scientific, cultural, social and economic cooperation. UNIMED acts in different fields: tangible and intangible cultural heritage, economics, energy, environment, management of water resources, transports, health, media, new technologies, history, tourism. The image that better represents our association is that of a University Without Walls.
Mission and Objectives

The governing bodies are the following:  
Assembly: The Assembly is composed of all Presidents of the UNIMED associated universities (or by their delegates)
Board of Directors:
President: Prof.  Wail Benjelloun, former Rector of University “Mohammed V” Rabat (Morocco)
Vice-Presidents:
Sapienza University of Rome (Italy)
University of Barcelona (Spain)

Secretary General: Prof. Hmaid Ben Aziza (Tunisia)
Other Components of the Board:
University of Algiers (Algeria)
University of Cyprus (Cyprus)
Cairo University (Egypt)
Alexandria University (Egypt)
University of Athens (Greece)
International University of Rome – UNINT (Italy)
University of Messina (Italy)
University of Sassari (Italy)
Lebanese University (Lebanon)
Holy Spirit University of Kaslik – Jounieh (Lebanon)
University “Mohammed V” Rabat (Morocco)
International University of Rabat (Morocco)
An Najah” University of Nablus (Palestine)
University of Tunis (Tunisia)
Istanbul Aydin University (Turkey)
Boğaziçi University of Istanbul (Turkey)
UNIMED carries out the following activities in favour of the associated Universities:
• Promotion of the international dimension of universities;
• Planning and fund-raising activities: information on call for proposals and opportunities offered by international and European Commission, partnership search, technical assistance, planning; dissemination;
• Promotion of mobility in the Euro-Mediterranean region, for students, researchers and academic staff;
• Technical assistance for the enhancement of quality assurance in university education;
• Creation of thematic Sub-Networks to foster the scientific cooperation within specific fields;
• Organization of meetings, discussions, seminars and round tables both at a national and international level;
• Training for academic and administrative staff of Universities, particularly for the personnel of International Relations Offices.
 

Main Projects / Activities

During the last few years, UNIMED has also supported the establishment of a second-level network, constituted by sub-Networks focused on specific sectors. The sub-Networks intend to create a database of research centers, university departments, ongoing projects and research line, including existing partnership in the selected fields. The sub-Networks structure allows an intensive exchange of information among the participating actors of the two Mediterranean shores for the creation of partnerships, collaborations and projects. The aim of these projects is to strengthen the economic and social cohesion, in order to promote, on the one side, cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation and, on the other side, local sustainable development.

Through the sub-Networks activities it is possible to increase the cooperation among the Euro-Mediterranean universities, to promote the development and harmonization of the educational systems in order to encourage, among others, the Bologna Process. The sub-networks on which UNIMED is concentrating its efforts are the following:

– Transports, logistics and multi-modality;
– Renewable energies and environment;
– Intangible cultural heritage;
– Tourism in the Mediterranean;
– Aerospace Technology and Air Transportation System;
– Mediterranean Diet;
– Sport;
– Water;
– Desertification.
UNIMED has recently established a think tank. A place where to produce detailed information on Mediterranean Region using primary sources, as well as produce original and in-depth analysis written directly by researchers of the UNIMED Think Tank or by university professors, intellectuals and specialists part of the network of UNIMED.
UNIMED has signed many agreements/MoUs with relevant Institutions, such as the UNION FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN (UfM); the European Investment Bank (EIB); the PROVENCE-ALPES-COTE D’AZUR REGION; ASSOCIATION OF ARAB UNIVERSITIES (AARU); INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS (IAUP).
UNIMED is one of the founder members of Academic Impact, a programme of the Outreach Division of the Department of Public Information of the United Nations, established in 2009 and dedicated to international higher education institutes and research centers.
UNIMED has a wide experience in EU project participation and management and in the field of Higher Education. It participates in a number of projects in different programmes (Erasmus+, Horizon 2020, Tempus IV, LLP, FP7, ENPI CBCMED, Interreg MED, Erasmus Mundus Action 2) and is currently coordinating four Erasmus+ CBHE projects: OpenMed, Opening up education in South-Mediterranean countries; RESUME, Reseau Méditerranéen pour l'Employabilité; DIREMED, Dialogue Interculturel, REseaux et Mobilité en MEDiterranée; RESCUE, Refugees Education Support in MENA Countries), one Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility, one Erasmus+ SP (inHERE, Higher Education supporting Refugees in Europe), and one Tempus IV (eMEDia, A bottom-up approach for the design and development of a joint Master Course in Cross-MEDia Journalism).
UNIMED is currently carrying out many projects available here http://www.uni-med.net/en/projects/

How can you contribute to the Network in your country?

UNIMED has a large network of Universities members where can spread all the relevant information and activities related to the ALF Network. 
Through the many initiatives carried out over the two decades, UNIMED has promoted the collaboration between universities of the Mediterranean, becoming a point of reference of the international university cooperation. UNIMED can indeed support the ALF Network in its mission, which is the same of UNIMED.
 

Why do you want to join the ALF Network?

UNIMED is interest in taking part to the ALF Network because it runs the largest Network of civil society organisations involved in the promotion of intercultural dialogue across Europe and the Mediterranean, which is one of the most important mission of UNIMED.  
The members of the ALF Network of Networks are of very diverse nature, including NGOs, public institutions, foundations, local and regional authorities, individuals and private organisations and for UNIMED it would be interesting collaborating with this eterogeneous organisations. 
 

Contact (1) Full Name
Marcello Scalisi
Job Title
UNIMED Director
Head of the organisation
President Wail Benjelloun