The DIRASA project partners are literally on the road for identifying best practices to enhance their research management, discovering new tools and methods to strengthen their international visibility and appeal and establishing connections with European researchers and experts.
Over the past few months, the DIRASA project, thanks to the efforts of all its partners, has launched crucial activities aiming at improving management skills and capacities in the field of scientific research and further strengthening cooperation between Tunisian and European universities.
On November 5th and 6th the partners gathered in Rome to attend the 3rd Mid-term partner meeting, hosted by UNIMED – Mediterranean Universities Union. The partners presented the various activities carried out so far, and also discussed the next activities to be implemented in the coming months, including the creation of a strategic monitoring cell.
Highlights of recent weeks include the field visit to the University of Pavia and University of Pisa, conducted from 7 to 11 October 2024 that involved a delegation from the Tunisian universities partnered with the DIRASA project. The long-term goal of these visits was to support the establishment of strategic monitoring and performance cells within each Tunisian university to strengthen their autonomy, improve their positioning, respond more effectively to national and international project calls, and evaluate research performance.
The field visits involved 32 participants from the 13 public Tunisian universities, including Presidents, Vice-presidents, Directors of Academic Affairs and Scientific partnerships, besides representatives from the Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the National Agency for the Promotion of Research (ANPR).
Among the various topics addressed during the field visit at the University of Pavia are research project management, doctoral training, tools and methods for assessing the quality of teaching and research, international cooperation with the Erasmus+ programs and Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions.
The delegation also had the chance to visit the Centro Grandi Strumenti, a center equipped with advanced facilities and recognized expertise across various scientific fields, which provides vital support to university researchers. Participants toured the labs and learned about collaboration opportunities.
On 10th and 11th October 2024, the participants moved to Pisa to participate in the second part of the field visits.
Over the two-day visit, discussions covered a range of topics from research management and incentive policies to the university’s best practices in quality, sustainability, and international collaboration, revealing numerous exemplary practices, including: tailored support services, an integrated approach to research, the quality assurance system in research and teaching activities, and the research projects related to sustainability.
On the second day, participants had the opportunity to visit the prestigious Enrico Piaggio Center, a hub of interdisciplinary research excellence. They also toured the University of Pisa’s Departments of Earth Sciences, Biology, and Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery. Direct exchanges with researchers and administrators allowed participants to explore scientific advancements in these fields, ask questions, share experiences, and identify potential future collaborations.
These field visits, filled with exchanges and insights, allowed participants to draw inspiration from best practices.
This knowledge sharing process that will end with the third visit to the University of Rouen, in France, represents a crucial moment of the project, as it allows the actors involved to have access to theoretical knowledge as well as moments of practical activity where it is possible to dialogue with the partner universities to further explore research-related issues.
The DIRASA project opens new horizons for research in Tunisia. By building on the skills and experiences gained during these visits, Tunisian universities will be better equipped to meet the challenges of research on an international scale.
If you want to know more about the DIRASA project, you can visit its dedicated website and follow us on the project channels.
