The III Mediterranean University Forum, MALTA, 8-10 June 2006

The Euro-Mediterranean Area of Higher Education Emerges from the directives set forth by the Bologna Declaration (1995) Emerges from the directives set forth by the Bologna Declaration (1995) The Declaration of the Tenth Anniversary of Barcelona acknowledges the crucial role of education for the region’s stability and for its effective economical, political and social development The Declaration of the Tenth Anniversary of Barcelona acknowledges the crucial role of education for the region’s stability and for its effective economical, political and social development The five-year Action Plan set by 10 th Anniversary Declaration entails actions aimed at the realisation of this objective The five-year Action Plan set by 10 th Anniversary Declaration entails actions aimed at the realisation of this objective

The Euro-Mediterranean Area of Higher Education Catania Declaration – January 2006 – 13 signatory Ministers Catania Declaration – January 2006 – 13 signatory Ministers The Catania Conferences (Nov 2003, Jan 2005) laid the basis for a political strategy aimed at coordinating education and training policies of Countries in the Mediterranean basin: - to increase opportunities of access to knowledge at HE level - to increase study and work situations in a multicultural environment

The situation in the Euro-Med area An area of intense bilateral collaboration An area of intense bilateral collaboration Multitude of networks, study-groups and research centres Multitude of networks, study-groups and research centres Disjointed efforts Disjointed efforts Universities as interlocutors for change Universities as interlocutors for change Image management and quality assurance Image management and quality assurance Lack of information regarding sources of qualitative and infrastructural investment Lack of information regarding sources of qualitative and infrastructural investment

The Euro-Mediterranean Area of Higher Education How do we realise the political mandates? How do we realise the political mandates? How do we ensure that efforts are not disjointed but a continuum is created over time? How do we ensure that efforts are not disjointed but a continuum is created over time? How do we expand bilateral cooperation into multilateral cooperation? How do we expand bilateral cooperation into multilateral cooperation? What sources of financing can be garnered to establish programmes for wide-scale mobility What sources of financing can be garnered to establish programmes for wide-scale mobility Why is it important to have a Euro- Mediterranean Higher Education Area? Why is it important to have a Euro- Mediterranean Higher Education Area? How to we ensure that this will be a win-win situation and not a platform for further brain drain? How to we ensure that this will be a win-win situation and not a platform for further brain drain?

The Euro-Mediterranean Higher Education Area The I and II Mediterranean University Forums and the Tarragona Declaration:  Involving Universities with an International and/or Regional agenda  Signature of a Declaration based on Dialogue and cooperation but including a definite Action Plan  Analysis of priorities  Identification of opportunities

The Tarragona Declaration Collaboration among Higher education institutions of the EuroMed countries Creation of a Euro- Mediterranean Higher Education and Research Area

The Tarragona Declaration 137 signatory universities so far 137 signatory universities so far 30 Euro-Med countries represented 30 Euro-Med countries represented 2 signatory institutions: IEMed, IAU 2 signatory institutions: IEMed, IAU Objective: To achieve a minimum of 1 higher education institution from all of the 35 EuroMed countries

The III Mediterranean University Forum  Malta 8-10 June 2006  Involving 200 participants from universities, networks, student organisations and entities with a global reach  Joint organisation with the British Council, the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures (Alexandria), the Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona  Building on the foundations laid by the dialogue which took place during the 1 st and 2 nd Forums and the Barcelona Process

Aims:  A common platform for the discussion and the development of activities that will set into motion the Euro-Mediterranean Higher Education Area  The organisation of the necessary infrastructure to enable the Euro-Mediterranean Higher Education Area to become a reality  Building of multilateral partnerships and sharing of expertise  Setting into motion the Action Plan set in the Tarragona Declaration

Aims (continued)  Development of programmes for mobility of staff – training and internships in project preparation and management for staff in universities and other HE centres  Strengthening of joint research structures,  Identification of structural needs for specific countries  Dissemination of information about potential financing sources (presentations and the Souk)

Aims (continued)  Pushing the agenda of mobility to the South  and beyond – a dynamic approach  Opportunities to develop collaboration with new partners and existing networks  Bringing together Universities with an International and/or Regional agenda  Analysis of priorities  Identification of opportunities and areas of excellence in the region

Round-tables Three main round-tables: The Euro-Mediterranean Area: a joint north- south professional challenge The Euro-Mediterranean Area: a joint north- south professional challenge The creation of a Euro-Mediterranean Area of Higher Education The creation of a Euro-Mediterranean Area of Higher Education The European Educational Programmes and their Euro-Mediterranean Dimension The European Educational Programmes and their Euro-Mediterranean Dimension Introduction by Chairperson + 3 or 4 presentations per round-table followed by plenary discussion

Other/Parallel sessions Med net meeting for students Med net meeting for students Quality Assurance in North-South collaboration Quality Assurance in North-South collaboration Presentation on the Tarragona Declaration Presentation on the Tarragona Declaration The Lifelong Learning Academy The Lifelong Learning Academy Infrastructural and Technological challenges Infrastructural and Technological challenges Funding Opportunities Funding Opportunities Technical Assistance Technical Assistance Project Drafting and support Project Drafting and support

The Souk Information Stands and Parallel Sessions from: - The Forum’s sponsors and partners - University Networks - The European Commission - Information Providers - Funding Organisations - Institutions and commercial organisations involved in projects The Souk will be managed and run by a group of facilitators who are trained in project organisation and management

The III Mediterranean University Forum, MALTA, 8-10 June Forum Secretariat: European Unit, Administration Building, University of Malta, MSD 06, MALTA Tel: (+356) Fax: (+356)