EMUNI Annual Scientific Conference 2026
Euro-Mediterranean Higher Education, Research and Innovation (EM-HERI 2026):
Sustainability, Open Science and Green Careers
Tunis, Tunisia
23 June 2026
Conference Rationale
The Euro-Mediterranean region is undergoing major environmental, social and economic change. Higher education, research and innovation systems are key to advancing sustainability, open science and future-oriented skills.
EM-HERI 2026 will convene policymakers, academic leaders, researchers, employers and civil society from across the Mediterranean to foster dialogue, knowledge exchange and cooperation for sustainable development, research excellence and inclusive innovation.
Objectives
The conference seeks to:
- Strengthen Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in higher education, research and innovation (HERI)
- Explore policy and institutional responses to sustainability and climate challenges
- Promote open science as a driver of quality, inclusiveness and impact
- Discuss the role of universities and research in shaping green skills and careers
- Provide a scientific forum for researchers to present recent findings and best practices
- Facilitate networking and partnership building among institutions and stakeholders
Target Audience
- Policymakers and public authorities (education, research, innovation, environment)
- University leadership and academic staff
- Researchers and doctoral candidates
- International and regional organisations
- Employers, industry and innovation actors
- Civil society organisations and youth representatives
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
9:00 – 09:30 Registration of Conference participants
9:30 – 10:30 Opening of the IEMed exhibition “A Sea of Heritages” (ALECSO Exhibition Hall)
10:30 – 10:45 Opening Ceremony with Welcome addresses by the organizers
- Prof. Dr. Mohammad Sanad Abu-Darwish (Director of Science and Scientific Research Department, ALECSO)
- H.E. Prof. Dr. Rado Bohinc (President, EMUNI University, Slovenia)
- H.E. Ambassador Dr. Senén Florensa (General Director, IEMed, Spain)
- H.E. Prof. Dr. Mohamad Ould Amar (Director-general, ALECSO, Tunisia)
10:45-11:15 High-level keynote interventions
- H.E. Juan Lugo (Ambassador to the Special Mission for Mediterranean Affairs, Spain), TBC
- H.E. Dr. Franci Demšar (Former President, Central and Eastern European Network of Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education-CEENQA, and Director, Quality Assurance Agency, Slovenia)
- H.E. Prof. Dr. Usama Madi (CEO of Aqaba University of Technology, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan)
11:15 – 11:45 Coffee Break
11:45 – 12:45: High-Level Panel: Mediterranean University Partnership: A step towards the Euro-Mediterranean Higher Education Area
Moderator: Prof. Dr. Roberto Biloslavo (Vice President, EMUNI University, Slovenia).
Participants: Petra Kežman (Deputy Secretary General for Human Development at the Union for the Mediterranean, Spain), Dr. Senén Florensa (General Director of the European Institute of the Mediterranean), Prof. Dr. Mohammad Sanad Abu-Darwish (Director of Science and Scientific Research Department, ALECSO), Ambassador Hatem Atallah (Member of Management Board, EMUNI University, Slovenia), Tom Ashwanden (Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to Tunisia), Prof. Dr. Rado Bohinc (President, EMUNI University, Slovenia).
12:45 – 13:25 Panel 1: Higher Education and Sustainability in the Euro-Mediterranean Region
Moderator: Dr. Mounya Allali (University of Eastern Piedmont, Italy)
Participants: Prof. Dr. Mohammad Al-Badi (President, Open Arab University, Sultanate of Oman), Prof. Dr. Saleh R. Abdussalam Gashoot (President, University of Gharyan, Libya), Prof. Dr. Michel Najjar (President, Lebanese French University, Lebanon), Dr. Gino Schiavone (Senior Director, Internal Quality Assurance, Institute of Tourism Studies, Malta), Prof. dr. Leila Chikhaoui Mahdaoui (Professor Emeritus, University of Carthage, and Former Minister of Environment, Tunisia).
13:30 – 14:10 Panel 2: Open Science, Research Excellence and Knowledge Sharing
Moderator: Prof. Dr. Jaka Vadnjal (Emuni University)
Participants:, Prof. Dr. Ajaoun Ahmed (Dean of the faculty of Legal and Political Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Morocco), Dr. Anna Walek (CTO and Head of Technology, OAPEN & DOAB, United Arab Emirates), Prof. Dr. Gassan Al-Kindi (Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Sohar University, Sultanate of Oman), Dr. Najwaa Fezaa Chriss (Director of Programs and Projects, UNESCO Regional Center for Quality and Excellence in Education, Saudi Arabia) Prof. Dr. Mohammed Khalid Brandalise Rhazzali (University of Padua, Italy)
14:15 – 15:15 Lunch Break
15:15 – 15:55 Panel 3: Green Skills, Innovation and Future Careers
Moderator: Paul Norris (Director of Credentialing and Evaluation, QuadraBay, United Arab Emirates)
Participants: Siza Zaby (Managing Director of European Board of Human Restart GmbH, Germany), Prof. Dr. Mustafa Abdalmajd Safa (President, Palestine Polytechnic University, Palestine), Prof. Dr. Heba F. Salem (President, 6 October Technological University, Egypt), Alessandro Miraglia (Team Leader, Networking, Partnership & Communication Facility, MedWaves, Spain), Vladimír Hlásny (Economic Affairs Officer, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), & FEMISE).
16:00 – 16:30 Coffee Break
16:30 – 17:15 Wrap-up Discussion
Moderator: Prof. Dr. Anis Ben Amor (Ambassador of the Arab-German Young Academy of Sciences and Humanities (AGYA) for Tunisia, Higher Institute of Humanities, University of Tunis El Manar)
Participants: Prof. Dr. Mohamado Lemrabott Jeyied (President, University of Islamic Sciences in Aioun, Mauritania), Prof. Dr. Georg Votava (Vice President, IHM – Institute for technology-based education in Health, Management and Social Services International, Austria), Prof. Dr. Chokri Hamouda (President of the Continuous Professional Development Unit at the Arab Board of Health Specializations Under Arab League Countries), Prof. Dr. Zahi Mohammed (Ibn Tofail University, Morocco)
Scientific Session
16:30 – 18:30 Scientific Parallel Sessions
Theme 1 moderated by Prof. dr. Gemma Aubarell (IEMed, Director of the Culture, Gender and Civil Society Department): Sustainability, Climate Action and Green Skills for Future Careers
Theme 2 moderated by Prof. dr. Mirella Korzeniewska-Wiszniewska (Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland): Research, Innovation and Open Knowledge for Inclusive Development
Theme 3 moderated by Ms. Karen Gladović (Head of Legal and HR – EMUNI University): Arab–Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation, Entrepreneurship and Economic Diversification
Tuesday, June 24, 2026
09:00 – 11:00 General Assembly of EMUNI (for EMUNI Network members only)
11:00 – 11:30 Coffee Break
11:30 – 13:30 Round table by ALECSO: Arab-European Integration Initiative for Joint Scientific and Academic Mobility.
Call for Papers
Euro-Mediterranean Higher Education, Research and Innovation (EM-HERI 2026) Sustainability, Open Science, Green Careers and Entrepreneurship
Conference date: 23 June 2026
Publication of Call for Papers: 21 January 2026
Context and Rationale
The Arab region and the wider Euro-Mediterranean area are facing interconnected challenges related to climate change, sustainable development, technological transformation and youth employment. Higher education, research and innovation systems are central to addressing these challenges by strengthening human capital, advancing scientific knowledge, promoting entrepreneurship and supporting the transition towards green and inclusive economies.
Within its mandate to promote education, culture, science and innovation in the Arab world, Arab League Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) actively supports regional cooperation, capacity building and knowledge exchange. In close partnership with the Euro-Mediterranean University (EMUNI), which promotes academic excellence and cooperation across the Mediterranean, and the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), which contributes policy analysis and dialogue on Euro-Mediterranean relations, EM-HERI 2026 brings together complementary institutional strengths to address shared regional challenges. The conference provides a strategic platform to enhance dialogue between Arab countries and their Euro-Mediterranean partners, fostering joint approaches to sustainability, open science and entrepreneurship.
The scientific programme invites researchers, academics and practitioners to contribute original research and policy-relevant analyses aligned with regional priorities and development agendas.
Thematic Areas
Contributions are welcome on topics including, but not limited to, the following:
Theme 1: Sustainability and Climate Action in Higher Education
Theme 2: Open Science and Knowledge Access in the Arab and Euro-Mediterranean Context
Theme 3: Research and Innovation for Sustainable and Inclusive Development
Theme 4: Green Skills, Youth Employability and Future Careers
Theme 5: Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Economic Diversification
Theme 6: Arab–Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation in Higher Education, Research and Innovation
Submission Guidelines
- Abstracts should be 300–400 words (excluding references)
- Submissions should clearly indicate the relevance of the contribution to Arab and/or Euro-Mediterranean contexts
- Abstracts must be submitted in English
- All submissions will undergo peer review by the Scientific Committee
Authors shall indicate their relevant theme.
Publication Opportunities
Selected contributions may be considered for publication in conference proceedings or in edited volumes or journal special issues, subject to further peer review. In addition, the Emuni Scientific Publishing House will consider compiling a scientific monograph dedicated to the rationale and thematic focus of the conference, to which authors of selected papers that best fit the topic will be invited to submit full papers.
Inquiries:
For any inquiries, please contact us at conference@emuni.si
Call for Papers published: 21 January 2026
Abstract submission deadline: 21 March 2026
Notification of acceptance: 21 April 2026
Organisers
Supported by
