UfM national focal points meeting on higher education calls for stronger regional cooperation

Barcelona, 9 April 2025 — The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) today convened its National Focal Points Meeting on Higher Education at its headquarters in Barcelona, bringing together representatives from over 20 UfM Member States and all major regional higher-education stakeholders. The meeting marked a decisive moment in the path toward building a stronger and more coordinated Euro-Mediterranean higher education space.

The meeting was opened by UfM Secretary General Nasser Kamel, who highlighted the transformative power of education and the need to match political rhetoric with concrete action. “Higher education is one of the most strategic investments we can make – for development, for resilience, and for peace in our region,” he stated. “Yet the level of political attention and coordination devoted to this area remains far too limited. This must change – and this is our moment to act.”

Participants discussed key priorities for the upcoming UfM Ministerial Conference on Higher Education, including:

• The launch of the new UfM Platform for Higher Education to improve policy coordination and stakeholder engagement;
• The need to increase funding for higher education cooperation at both the European and national levels;
• Strategies to enhance partnerships, including through strengthened participation of Southern countries in the Erasmus+ programme;
• The promotion of Euro-Mediterranean university alliances and dedicated South-South mobility programmes;
• Reinforced collaboration on academic quality, recognition frameworks, and employability.

The meeting featured active participation of the Presidents of UfM-labelled universities, EMUNI and UEMF, the heads of leading university networks UNIMED and Téthys, and strong presence from the Erasmus Student Network. Their engagement underscored the critical role that regional academic institutions play in building a coherent and connected higher education area.

Over the course of the day, participants took part in thematic panels, interactive workshops, and strategic dialogue sessions aimed at shaping a renewed regional framework for cooperation in higher education. Discussions drew on the broad consultations held in 2023 and will directly inform the next steps toward the Ministerial.

As the UfM celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Process, this meeting reaffirmed the region’s shared commitment to higher education as a powerful engine for integration, innovation, and peace in the Mediterranean. It provided also valuable input for the New Pact for the Mediterranean – an important regional milestone and a timely opportunity to elevate higher education as a strategic priority for regional cooperation.