UNITAFRICA: First In-Person Meeting in Addis Ababa to Strengthen Academic Cooperation between Italy and Africa

Addis Ababa, May 15-16, 2025

On May 15 and 16, 2025, the first in-person meeting of the UNITAFRICA project (https://www.unitafrica.it/), an academic cooperation initiative born from the partnership between 21 Italian universities and an alliance with 78 African universities, will take place at the Italian Cultural Institute in Addis Ababa, with the support of the Embassy of Italy in Ethiopia. The project is part of the PNRR-TNE (Transnational Education Initiatives) programs.

The goal of the UNITAFRICA project, coordinated by the University of Brescia, is to strengthen academic cooperation in the educational field by identifying Best Practices in Education through innovative teaching methods. In addition to the already active website (www.unitafrica.it), a multidisciplinary educational platform will be created, accessible to students and faculty members from the 99 participating universities.

Access to high-level secondary education is a fundamental aim of this academic cooperation project, which, building on the twenty-year experience of CUCS (University Coordination for Development Cooperation – https://retecucs.it), aims to achieve it in a non-discriminatory, fair, and sustainable manner, in line with the standards established in the main international legal instruments (Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063).

Among the many activities of the project, which have already seen the opening meeting between the participating universities on February 14, the establishment of the UNITAFRICA Alliance, and the launch of thematic webinars, the academic council of UNITAFRICA has organized this important event in Africa, both to present the progress of the activities and to directly initiate the partnership with African colleagues, who will represent the interests of the 18 countries in the sub-Saharan region involved.

The event will be attended by distinguished institutional and academic representatives from both Italy and Africa. These include Agostino Palese, Ambassador of Italy to Ethiopia; Francesco Castelli, Rector of the University of Brescia; and Maurizio Busanelli, Permanent Representative of Italy to the African Union. Semen Kumurzhi, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Addis Ababa, will also be present, and, subject to confirmation, Samuel Kifle, President of Addis Ababa University, and Jemal Abafita, President of Jimma University. The scientific sessions will be led by Sabrina Sorlini, Scientific Director of the UNITAFRICA project. Representatives from the Italian Ministry of University and Research, along with delegates from several African partner universities, will also participate.

The event will be held in a hybrid format, allowing those who are unable to attend in person to follow it remotely.

For further information about the project: www.unitafrica.it

The Italian Cultural Institute in Addis Ababa

UNITAFRICA: First In-Person Meeting in Addis Ababa to Strengthen Academic Cooperation between Italy and Africa

Addis Ababa, May 15-16, 2025

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