Page 33 - A Handbook for Academia, Industry and Policymakers: Reinforcing the Innovation-Employability Nexus in the Mediterranean

32 REINFORCING THE INNOVATION-EMPLOYABILITY NEXUS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REINFORCING THE INNOVATION-EMPLOYABILITY NEXUS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN 33

BI-LATERAL AND TEAM MEETINGS

A total of 19 meetings were held with UfM to The regional context is a critical factor in
discuss research outcomes, obstacles, findings understanding the influences on employability Join the dynamic network of 130
and development of the publication, including and innovation and the study’s focus on the
five meetings with Steering Committee sphere of higher education reflects significant higher education institutions
members who contributed directly to the differences in institutional strategies. Certain
publication. A recurring obstacle was finding countries have less statistical data readily
information about specific countries and sub- available and, as a result, less consistently UNIMED: the Mediterranean
regions in the Mediterranean that was not recorded data on key indicators for employability
aggregated to the point of losing granular and innovation. This limited the presentation of Universities Union
meaning. Countries in the Mediterranean region the contextual setting and the diversity of the
have significantly different social and economic region overall, especially when the indicators
influences and a great deal of analysis available do not fully capture the many positive attributes UNIMED, the Mediterranean Universities Union brings Participation to the SubNetwork is open to UNIMED associated
combines information across the region, often the region offers through its rich culture and together 130 Universities from 23 countries from around universities and RESUME partners. The RESUME partners
including countries outside of the scope of this commitment to learning. Although the region the Mediterranean basin. Its mission is to develop research have collected about 300 good practices on young graduate
research. Ultimately, the specific statistical boasts initiatives that positively contribute to and education in the Euro-Mediterranean area to promote employability. Link to RESUME good practices: https://www.
data was disaggregated by country and re- addressing the issue of employability, concrete scientific, cultural, social and economic cooperation in resumeproject.eu/bonnes-pratiques/
different scientific fields across the region. UNIMED is
aggregated into the sub-regions of interest, and evidenced-based outcomes are still hard to find. like a University Without Walls and promotes capacity Best practice: Centre MINE at the Lebanese
in the case of regional analyses, only parts of Hence, this publication has limited information on development through internationality and mobility, plans University (Lebanon)
the literature pertaining to countries within the initiatives presented and has not benefitted from fund-raising activities, supports quality assurance in Centre MINE was created by UNIMED’s RESUME project in
education, including organising events and training.
scope were referenced. coordinated central information. The resulting 2019 and is easily transferable to other regional contexts. It is
manual process undoubtedly overlooked valuable Through its many initiatives carried out over two decades, a Centre for Careers, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the
Analysis: connecting methods to work in the focus areas. UNIMED has become a point of reference for international Lebanese University that addresses the shift towards a new
concept of employment that is more demanding. Graduates
university cooperation. In response to the challenges
research objectives A possible lesson learned from this limitation facing the Mediterranean region, in particular the southern are considered as skill providers not just job seekers, and
is that successes of positive employability or Mediterranean countries, the UNIMED SubNetwork the concept of ‘innovation with the aim of entrepreneurship’
With the data gathered and categorised by theme, innovation initiatives should be communicated on Employability (part of the RESUME project) was or ‘entrepreneurship with the aim of innovation’ shapes the
the analysis zeroed in on the thematic areas not only within the owner institution but also established with a focus on women’s entrepreneurship and development of humanity and makes economic and social
development interdependent. The Lebanese University seeks
university incubators. The SubNetwork aims to strengthen
selected by the Steering Committee. Literature outside country borders, to the sub-region and economic and social cohesion by promoting cross- to be a major player in the role that HEIs in Lebanon play to
and initiatives for each theme were analysed larger regions. Communication is crucial to border, transnational and inter-regional cooperation and stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship among students
using the Triple Helix Framework and a synthesis raising awareness of potential solutions and sustainable local development including: and citizens. The Centre is now working with all Faculties and
of this analysis appears in each chapter with fostering future partnerships. • Conducting studies, analysis and research 81’000 students. Its main goals are:
specific reference to the initiatives that pertain to • Gathering and sharing information throughout the • Bridging the gap between the university, productive
that thematic area. Mediterranean region institutions and the business world
• Encouraging dialogue and mutual exchange of • Improving student employability and professional
information to create new networks, partnerships integration
Limitations and developing joint projects to spread employment • Developing innovation and creativity capacity at the
opportunities university
The issue of employability and innovation in the • Organizing international events (workshops, seminars • Advancing the entrepreneurship culture at the university
Mediterranean region is complex and UfM’s aim and conferences, summer schools and intensive courses • Creating and activating the Lebanese University's Unit for
with this publication is to provide a tool to bring for PhD students) to improve the flow of knowledge Behavioural Advice and Guidance
together academia, industry and governments to and exchange of experiences between researchers and • Aiming to create a business incubator for innovative
faculties;
projects
work together in addressing it. This is an ambitious • Promoting exchange of students and professors at
goal, and this publication was developed over master’s and doctoral level, through the creation of To achieve its goals, Centre MINE endeavours to hold training
approximately four months during the global programs and joint supervision of courses and through courses, scientific, cultural, research and other meetings and
pandemic of 2020 which limited the ability to the creation of a series of seminars activities, and is concluding agreements and partnerships
with stakeholders locally and internationally.
explore the regional contexts more in-depth.
The study would also have benefited from more www.uni-med.net
input from industry. The data available on some
initiatives in the Southern Mediterranean is
highly fragmented and certain information was
not easily available. With more time, these areas
could have been more completely represented
through additional input from local and regional
actors.