Proposal

In the Middle East and Mediterranean region, academic collaboration between countries remains limited despite its great potential. The shared challenges—economic, environmental, social, and political—highlight the urgent need for cross-border cooperation in higher education. While European exchange programs like Erasmus+ have shown significant successes, there is a need for initiatives specifically tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities of our region. Furthermore, recent geopolitical developments, including the Abraham Accords and the normalization of relations between Israel and several Arab countries, open new opportunities for academic collaboration. Against this backdrop, the MOSAIC project offers an innovative platform to bridge cultural, religious, and political gaps through education and mutual understanding while addressing complex issues such as the geopolitical impacts on curricula. The project aims to create a sustainable framework for regional academic cooperation tailored to the specific needs of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean countries, promoting innovation, joint research, and intercultural understanding.

The MOSAIC project is an innovative and multidimensional approach to promoting regional cooperation in higher education from Cyprus, Israel, Jordan and Morocco.

A member of the steering committee will lead each topic group with a few members including students where possible. The group will plan the program for the topic group including a session F2F in Cyprus and the continuation of the strand.

The project will focus on several key topics:

Comparative Study of Higher Education Systems in the Region

In-depth analysis of the structure, policies, and challenges of higher education systems in participating countries.

Development of Joint Curricula

Creation of courses and academic programs that integrate diverse perspectives and promote intercultural understanding.

Promotion of Joint Research Between Institutions

Encouraging research collaborations on topics of regional importance such as climate, environment, water, agriculture and technological innovation.

Integration of Innovative Technologies in Teaching

Exploration and application of advanced teaching methods based on technologies such as online learning, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence.

Promotion of Intercultural Understanding Through Education

Development of programs and methodologies to deepen understanding and dialogue between different cultures and religions in the region.