[Pavia, October 9, 2024] – A delegation from the Tunisian universities partnered with the DIRASA project visited the University of Pavia on October 7-8 for the first in a series of field visits and best practice exchanges in Europe focused on strategic monitoring and research performance.

The long-term goal of these visits is to support the establishment of strategic monitoring and performance cells within each Tunisian university to strengthen their autonomy, improve their positioning, respond more effectively to national and international project calls, and evaluate research performance.

Key takeaways from the Pavia visit
During these two days, the University of Pavia opened its doors to showcase the tools and methods it employs to optimize its research project management. Discussions covered several topics, including:

• Research project management: participants learned best practices for designing, managing, and evaluating research projects, from securing funding to enhancing results.
• Doctoral training: Pavia’s doctoral programs were detailed, highlighting the selection, mentoring, and assessment mechanisms for PhD candidates.
• Institutional evaluation: Pavia’s tools and methods for assessing the quality of its teaching and research were explained.
• International cooperation: Erasmus+ programs and Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions were emphasized as essential drivers for fostering international collaborations and strengthening research networks.

The second day was dedicated to visiting the Centro Grandi Strumenti, a center equipped with advanced facilities and recognized expertise across various scientific fields, which provides vital support to university researchers. Participants toured the labs and learned about collaboration opportunities.

Benefits for Tunisian universities
This visit, filled with exchanges and insights, allowed participants to draw inspiration from best practices. Through this experience, participating Tunisian universities were able to:

• Identify best practices to enhance their research management.
• Discover new tools and methods to strengthen their visibility and appeal internationally.
• Establish connections with European researchers and experts.

Several key points were highlighted:

• The Importance of Infrastructure: Investing in cutting-edge equipment is essential for high-level research.
• Interdisciplinarity: An interdisciplinary approach is needed to tackle major global scientific challenges.
• International Collaboration: Partnerships with foreign institutions serve as a valuable model.

A promising future for Tunisian research
The DIRASA project opens new horizons for research in Tunisia. By building on the skills and experiences gained during these visits, Tunisian universities will be better equipped to meet the challenges of research on an international scale.

Are you a researcher, faculty researcher, or an innovation leader in Tunisia? Contact us to learn more about the DIRASA project and the initiatives in place to support research in your country.