The Erasmus+ capacity building project ‘HGRA – EnHancing manaGement and studies on migRation issues in LibyA’ aims to strengthen the role of Libyan universities in addressing immigration challenges comprehensively. Central to this mission is the empowerment of universities to build capacity and prepare competent cadres equipped to address immigration issues effectively. Through tailor-made curricula, specialised training programmes and interdisciplinary initiatives, universities play a fundamental role in producing professionals with expertise in the field addressed by the project.

In the framework of the HGRA project – Work Package 4 – Training Modules – led by the Sapienza University of Rome (Italy), the HGRA project hosted a highly informative and thought-provoking roundtable on the important topic of “Bologna Process and Dublin Descriptors for Libyan Higher Education Institutions” on 4 July. The event, which took place online from 3pm to 5pm, brought together distinguished experts and representatives from the project’s partner institutions to discuss the potential benefits and challenges associated with aligning Libyan universities with these influential frameworks.

The roundtable facilitated a valuable exchange of knowledge and highlighted best practices for alignment with the Bologna Process and the Dublin Descriptors. Participants shared insights into successful approaches, identified challenges and explored strategies to overcome obstacles.

Two further roundtables will be organised by the end of the year to address the specific needs of each Libyan higher education institution. These needs have been assessed through a data collection exercise in the second work package of the project.

Following the roundtable, the HGRA partners, together with external academic and non-academic stakeholders, met on 9 July 2024 at the premises of Zawia University in Libya.

The occasion was the first workshop of Work Package 3 entitled “Exploring international cooperation in addressing migration in Libya”.

The aim of the workshop was to provide an informal platform for discussion among HGRA partners on migration dynamics in Libya and cooperation between Libya and the European Union. The session started with a short presentation of the results of WP2 by the University of Zawia. This was followed by a broader discussion among HGRA partners and experts, facilitated by UNIMED and the University of Barcelona, on key migration concepts related to the project’s objectives and challenges.

After the introductory phase, a training session provided a platform for local and international stakeholders involved in migration issues in higher education institutions to exchange knowledge and best practices and discuss innovative solutions for addressing migration-related issues through international cooperation.

The following lectures were presented:

• “Italy-Libya bilateral cooperation on migration in higher education institutions: implications and perspectives” by Dr. Francesco Luigi Gatta
• “EU-Libya cooperation mechanisms in managing migration in higher education institutions along the Central Mediterranean Route” by Dr. Lorena Calvo Mariscal
• “Strengthening Teaching and Research Capabilities in Migration Studies in Libyan Universities” by Dr. Tarek Elaswed
• “Civil Rights and Movement Towards Migration in Higher Education Institutions” by Dr. Adel-Naim

Two more workshops will be organised during the course of the project: one focusing on the status of migrants under international conventions, the other on border control.

Stay tuned for the next HGRA events!