Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) participated in the meeting of General Secretariat of the Union for Mediterranean Universities (UNIMED), organized by the Union at the University of Jordan on June 22-23, 2022. The meeting was attended by university presidents from the twenty-three countries bordering the Mediterranean basin, and representatives of partner organizations.
The Islamic University was represented in the meeting by Dr. Mazen Al-Zaharna, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Islamic University. The conference carried the slogan (Shaping the Mediterranean From Cooperation to Integration).
This meeting constitutes an opportunity for partner universities and higher education institutions bordering the Mediterranean to exchange experiences and knowledge, and discuss the challenges they face at all levels, especially in the era of post-Covid-19 pandemic and the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
UNIMED is considered one of the largest academic gatherings at the Mediterranean level and is currently chaired by Dr. Francisco Matt Bonn. The union, which includes 144 universities coming from 23 countries on both sides of the Mediterranean, aims to develop research and education in Euro-Mediterranean region, and contribute to scientific, cultural, social and economic cooperation in order to improve the lives of societies and make the world a better place.
Participants in the meeting discussed vital and urgent topics, such as: peace and security, Euro-Mediterranean academic cooperation, opportunities for international mobility, digital and open education, employment and entrepreneurship, intercultural dialogue and student organizations, good governance, quality assurance and responsibility in higher education in Middle East region and North Africa (MENA), and their relevance to the Sustainable Development Goals.