Cairo, Egypt – 14 May 2026 – The final conference of the YHELD project (Project No. 101129434) successfully took place in Cairo on 13–14 May 2026, bringing together representatives of Yemeni and European higher education institutions, international cooperation experts, university leaders, and policymakers to reflect on the project’s achievements and define future directions for sustainable academic collaboration.
The conference marked the culmination of the YHELD initiative, dedicated to strengthening the internationalisation capacities of Yemeni higher education institutions and fostering long-term cooperation between Yemeni universities and European partners.
The event opened with welcoming remarks from Prof. Hadi Al-Sabban, Cultural Attach� at the Yemen Embassy in Cairo, who highlighted the importance of higher education cooperation as a strategic tool for resilience, development, and international engagement in Yemen.
Andrea Damiani, from Link Campus University and Coordinator of the YHELD project, presented a comprehensive overview of the project’s evolution, outlining its objectives, implementation process, major milestones, challenges encountered, lessons learned, and the most significant achievements realised throughout the project lifecycle. He emphasised the importance of building institutional capacities for internationalisation and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the project results.
Silvia Marchionne, Senior Project Manager at UNIMED and leader of Work Package 4, presented the outcomes of the training week organised in Cairo, as well as the results of institutional events and the national conference conducted in cooperation with the Ministry. Her presentation focused on the strengthening of institutional engagement, stakeholder coordination, and policy dialogue within the Yemeni higher education sector.
A central focus of the conference was the presentation of the newly established Yemeni IRO Network, introduced by Mohamed Ba Azab, Director of the International Relations Office at the University of Aden and YHELD local coordinator. He outlined the process behind the creation of a national network connecting International Relations Offices across Yemeni higher education institutions. His presentation addressed the strategic role of IROs in supporting internationalisation processes, promoting sustainable cooperation frameworks, aligning Yemeni universities with European and international higher education standards, and ensuring continuity beyond the project duration.
The session also included an open discussion on future improvements and development opportunities for the Yemeni IRO Network, followed by the official validation and signature of the Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) by the Presidents or Vice-President at the eight Yemeni higher education institutions.
During the session dedicated to the Euro-Yemeni Academic Cooperation Network, Silvia Marchionne highlighted the importance of participation in international cooperation programmes, academic mobility initiatives, and the exchange of expertise, practices, and institutional experiences. She further emphasised the role of the network as a platform for strategic dialogue, political engagement, and enhanced Euro-Yemeni academic partnerships.
The second day of the conference focused on sustainability and future planning. Andrea Damiani and Silvia Marchionne jointly presented the project’s sustainability and capitalisation strategy, outlining the conditions and actions required to maintain and expand the project results after the formal end of the initiative. Their presentation stressed the importance of institutional ownership, continued networking activities, and long-term coordination mechanisms.
Communication and dissemination activities were presented by Peter Podhostnik, Dissemination Leader from the School of Advanced Social Studies (SASS) and leader of Work Package 5. His session focused on the implementation of communication tools and outreach channels designed to raise awareness of the YHELD networks and ensure wider visibility of project outcomes among stakeholders, institutions, and international audiences.
The conference also addressed financial and management aspects of project closure. Andrea Damiani provided guidance on final financial and technical reporting procedures.
In the concluding session, Silvia Marchionne led discussions on action planning and next steps on how to operationalise the Euro-Yemeni academic cooperation network through the broader UNIMED framework.
The conference concluded with final remarks and evaluation activities led by Andrea Damiani and Silvia Marchionne, summarising the key outcomes of the event, participants’ commitments, and future collaboration perspectives. Certificates were awarded to participants in recognition of their engagement and contribution to the project.
The YHELD project brings together a consortium of European and Yemeni partners, including Link Campus University, UNIMED, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, the School of Advanced Social Studies, and several Yemeni universities. The initiative aims to enhance the internationalisation capacities of Yemeni higher education institutions and strengthen their integration into the international academic community.
About YHELD
The YHELD project aims to strengthen leadership, governance, and institutional capacity in Yemeni higher education institutions through international collaboration, knowledge exchange, and sustainable network building.
Read more about the project results at:
University of Aden
YHELD Final Conference in Cairo Reinforces Euro-Yemeni Academic Cooperation and Internationalisation of H ...