Project Description
Why DIRASA?
The world of higher education and scientific research has joined a quest for excellence, where competition among the world’s universities has become a significant challenge, and the search for excellence is now a priority for many governments.
The scientific impact of Tunisia has positively increased since the establishment of the PNR (National Research Program) in 1996. However, despite its great potential, university research in Tunisia still plays a minor role and suffers from several deficiencies, especially in terms of efficient piloting, organisation and management.
What are our objectives?
DIRASA intends to address the research priorities set out in the strategic plan of MESRS (Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research), with the aim of:
enhancing the capacity of universities and research centres in terms of strategic foresight and scientific perspective by improving the schemes establishing the priorities of national research and the needs of national innovation, R&D and international cooperation;
allowing better coordination between universities, research centres, research facilities and laboratories with MESRS, ANPR (Tunisian National Agency for the Promotion of Scientific Research) and CNEAR (Tunisian National Centre for Research Evaluation) at a national level;
boosting the capacity of universities and research centres by developing MESRS’s internal governance and quality assurance systems;
improving the visibility and reputation of scientific research both at national and international levels by establishing a permanent dialogue with the potential users of the research results
Who works with us?
Tunisian university managers (rectors, vice-rectors, heads of establishment and department, deans and vice-deans in charge of the university research, directors of research facilities and doctoral schools)
Administrative staff (heads of laboratory services and research units in Tunisian universities) and academic staff (professors and researchers) who are responsible for steering and managing research operations
Researchers and PhD students
Society in general (policymakers, other national and local institutions that are not consortium partners)
DIRASA’s Partners:
The 13 Tunisian Public Universities
- Université de Sfax (Coordinator)
- Université de Tunis
- Université de Tunis El Manar
- Université de Carthage
- Université de Sousse
- Université de Gabes
- Université de la Manouba
- Université de Monastir
- Université Virtuelle de Tunis
- Université de Kairouan
- Université de Gafsa
- Université de Jendouba
- Université Ez-Zitouna
Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS)
Tunisian National Agency for the Promotion of Scientific Research (ANPR)
3 European Universities
- Università di Pisa (Italy)
- Università degli Studi di Pavia (Italy)
- Université de Rouen Normandie (France)
UNIMED – Mediterranean Universities Union (Italy)
a network of higher education and research institutions promoting university cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean region, Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and Western Balkans.
CESIE ETS (Italy)
a European Centre for Studies and initiatives focused on promoting research and innovation development in the socio-economic, educational and cultural domains.