The Euro-Mediterranean University (EMUNI) hosted Professor Amel Hamza-Chaffai of SFAX University – Tunisia for a one-week mobility from 1 June until 8 June, 2022.
During the course of the mobility, Professor Hamza-Chaffai was able to attend the first meeting of the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Blue Economy (Coe-Sube), of which she is a dedicated team member, and therefore, had the opportunity to get to know fellow project colleagues and to participate in the detailed planning of the Centre´s activities. This also involved taking part in a workshop on the design of the competence framework for the sustainable blue economy. Professor Hamza-Chaffai also gave a presentation on creativity and innovation, in which she shared the concept of combining technical and soft skills to turn ideas into business. From the 6-7 June, she also attended training on conveying knowledge and skills to integrate connectivity in maritime spatial planning. The presence of Professor Hamza-Chaffai at the kick-off meeting of Coe-Sube proved not only essential, but also highly productive, since it enabled her to follow up with ideas and suggestions related to this long-term significant project, including: training trainers, teaching best practices, University without Borders Concept, workshops on innovation and creativity in 4 steps and on combining technical and soft skills.
From a cultural point of view, the mobility allowed Professor Hamza-Chaffai to discover Piran, Slovenia, for the first time. She was given a guided tour of the fishing town where EMUNI is located with one partner of the Coe-Sube project, which gave her the chance to discover how the cultural and biological patrimony (bio patrimony) is valued by relevant tourist tours.
After returning to her home institution, Professor Hamza-Chaffai held discussions with her colleagues on potential future bilateral collaborations with EMUNI, while the mobility overall has helped her enlarge her network, forge new connections and partnerships while reinforcing existing collaborations. On a regional and indeed, European level, the mobility provided more representation and visibility for SFAX University through its involvement in the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence.
For more on the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, go to: https://coe-sube.eu/