Hon. Michel Vauzelle (France), Vice President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, participated at the 2015 General Assembly of the Mediterranean Universities Union (UNIMED), held in Rome on 21-22 October, in collaboration with La Sapienza University.
More than 150 participants from 60 Higher Education Institutions from both shores of the Mediterranean basin and representatives of other Institutions connected with the Higher Education area such as DG Research and DG Education and Culture of the European Commission, the Association of Arab Universities, the Arab-Europe Conference on Higher Education, amongst others, attended the 2-day event, demonstrating the interest and the importance of such gatherings to reinforce dialogue and to open cooperation opportunities.
The UNIMED Assembly addressed key topics related to international cooperation in the field of Higher Education: Erasmus+, Horizon 2020, Doctoral Education, Employability and Entrepreneurship, Cross – Border Cooperation, Sustainable Tourism and Cultural Heritage, as well as the role of the University in the digital era.
On the margins of the event, PAM Secretary General, Amb. Piazzi, discussed with UNIMED Secretary General, Prof. Franco Rizzi, possible concrete avenues to strengthen the PAM Academic Platform, launched a few months ago in Catania, Italy. The role and support of parliamentarians to assist in developing further synergies between the academic field, research activities and the economic and employment sectors were thoroughly discussed, in view of a shared programme of initiatives to be undertaken as part of a Memorandum of Understanding to be signed in the near future between PAM and UNIMED.
Discussions were also held with Prof. Nicola Luigi Rizzi, representative of the Rector of the Università degli Studi Roma 3, for the coordination of international relations in the Mediterranean area. Amb. Piazzi and Prof. Rizzi, agreed on a programme of events under the auspices of the PAM Academic Platform, to be hosted by the University in the third trimester of 2016.