The training and capacity-building component, at the heart of the project, has recently begun its activities. It aims to train three categories of Algerian university staff: leaders and decision-makers, academic staff, and administrative personnel, through a structured learning pathway designed as a space for sharing knowledge, best practices, and transferable skills.
This training component is organized in several stages: webinars and training workshops in Algeria, followed by study visits to European partner universities, and finally local training sessions delivered by previously trained staff.
This first phase of training focuses on the following thematic areas: partnerships and networking, international mobility programs, internationalization at home, and international projects. The training is structured as follows: an introductory webinar presenting the key themes, followed by a practical and interactive 3-day workshop led by European partners UNIMED, University of Paris 8, and the University of Granada.
The training program was co-designed by European and Algerian partners after conducting a needs analysis based on input from the Algerian institutions.
How to Build Partnerships for My University?
On March 2, 2026, the first webinar brought together over one hundred participants online. It focused on Theme 1: partnerships and networking.
The training was conducted in two parts. First, speakers addressed the strategic challenges of university partnerships in a complex geopolitical context, highlighting the links between institutional strategy and international cooperation dynamics, as well as associated risks. In the second part, the session focused on partnership governance: the role of institutions and networks, different types of partnerships, and the criteria that distinguish strategic alliances from occasional collaborations.
The session concluded with a lively discussion, demonstrating strong engagement from participating academic and administrative staff. The high turnout at this first event confirms the partner institutions’ interest in strengthening their international engagement.
From April 7 to 9, 2026, the University of Ghardaïa hosted the first “training of trainers” workshop, inaugurated by Rector Prof. Ilyes Bensaci in the presence of all national and international partners. The event was also featured on Elwatania TV.
Participants worked in three groups on practical case studies, including: Analyzing a partnership agreement to understand its key clauses, identifying and classifying types of partnerships and networks; simulation exercises on the institutional impact of networks, comparative case studies to distinguish strategic partnerships from occasional collaborations, a bilateral negotiation role-play, designing a partnership evaluation system. These activities helped translate the theoretical input from the webinar into practical tools.
Alongside the sessions, a mid-term meeting brought together partners to review progress on work packages and their evaluation by Mr. Rabia Khelif, the project’s external evaluator. Discussions also covered budgetary and administrative management, as well as dissemination and quality control activities. The project coordinator, Dr. Mounya Belhocine, presented an overview of overall progress and upcoming steps.
The workshop concluded with the awarding of certificates to participants and trainers.
Building on the success of this first cycle, the training program will continue with new webinars and workshops dedicated to international mobility and internationalization at home. The next session will take place in Sétif in May 2026.
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