On Tuesday, 20 January 2026, the University of Abou Bekr Belkaïd of Tlemcen hosted the kick-off meeting of the MED.HELA – Mediterranean Higher Education Leadership Academy project, a Capacity Building in Higher Education action funded by the Erasmus+ Programme. The National Erasmus+ Office (NEO) Algeria participated in the meeting, represented by Prof. Mohammed Boudour, Coordinator of NEO Algeria, reaffirming its commitment to supporting strategic reforms in higher education.
MED.HELA responds to the urgent need to strengthen leadership capacity within the higher education systems of Algeria and Tunisia, which are undergoing major reforms to improve accessibility, quality, and societal and economic impact. The project supports university leaders in governance, strategic planning, and institutional management through the establishment of a Mediterranean Higher Education Leadership Academy (MHELA) and the delivery of a certified Mediterranean Higher Education Leadership Development Programme (MHE-LDP).
Coordinated by the University of of Tlemcen, the project is implemented by a consortium of academic and institutional partners including the University of Constantine 3 and the University of Biskra in Algeria; the University of Jendouba, Virtual University of Tunis, and University of Sousse in Tunisia; the University of Granada in Spain; and the Euro-Mediterranean University in Slovenia. The consortium is further strengthened by the participation of European Leadership Initiative Limited (Ireland) and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of both Algeria and Tunisia.
The project will develop the Academy’s governance framework, operational procedures, and training infrastructure, including a digital self-assessment application for higher education leaders and dedicated executive training facilities. Learning will be delivered through expert-led sessions, networking activities, action learning approaches, and national change projects designed to generate immediate institutional impact.
During the project, more than 1,200 higher education leaders from Algeria and Tunisia are expected to engage with MED.HELA activities, with 144 leaders benefiting directly from the certified leadership development programme. In the five years following the project, over 4,000 additional leaders are expected to benefit from continued Academy activities. With an EU grant of €990,891.36, MED.HELA represents a major investment in strengthening governance and leadership across the Euro-Mediterranean higher education landscape.
The National Erasmus+ Office Algeria thanks all partners for their strong engagement and will continue to support the implementation of MED.HELA as a flagship initiative contributing to sustainable transformation within Algerian and Tunisian universities.
