Reinforcing the Innovation-Employability Nexus in the Mediterranean: A new handbook for academia, industry and policymakers

9 December 2020. A new handbook for academia, industry and policymakers has just been published by the UfM with the support of the German development agency GIZ. This new useful tool is aimed at enhancing career development among students and researchers, at fostering entrepreneurship and start-ups, and at supporting universities in carrying out their ‘third mission’ towards society.  

The themes of the Handbook emerged through the data analysis of qualitative and quantitative input from 35 organisations around the Mediterranean (universities, research institutions, innovation centres, ministries of education, European Commission, OECD), as well as the mapping of 146 programmes, initiatives and best practices, and a literature review of 1350 publications. The handbook focuses on a total of 11 themes: skills; teaching and learning; collaborative doctorates; international mobility; internships; career services; knowledge exchange; partnerships for innovation; digital innovation; capacity development of higher education institutions (HEIs); and equity, diversity & inclusion.  

In the Mediterranean, unemployment is higher among those with tertiary education than those without it, reaching an average of 30% across the region. This problem is socially complex, suffers from many interdependencies and multiple causes, and has no single solution. While connectivity between academia, industry and government is critical to power innovation and employability, HEIs and research centres are seen as key drivers of change. In this context, the UfM has engaged in an initiative called ‘Reinforcing the innovation-employability nexus in the Mediterranean’, which promotes collaboration between all the stakeholders involved in addressing unemployment of highly qualified graduates. 

The Handbook was presented in a seminar which took place on 2 December and counted with the participation of PRIMA Foundation, UNIMED, BUSINESSMED UMCE, Conception X, the German development agency GIZ, the author, and the UfM. 

Download the Handbook:  https://ufmsecretariat.org/publication-speech/reinforcing-the-innovation-employability-nexus-in-the-mediterranean/  

Public presentation of the Handbook: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_grtTsfuOU