Overview of the Project
DUNIA BEAM project aims to contribute to the strengthening of the cooperation between European Union Higher Education Institutions and Middle-East country Institutions, specifically with Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Syria, by facilitating the mobility of students, researchers and academic and administrative staff through a scholarships scheme, curriculum development of the individuals, the transfer of know-how in international mobility and the exchange of best practices.
The partnership has been created on the basis of activities and scientific links already existing, in certain cases since decades: this assures a deep interest to create and to improve the scientific and academic collaboration between Europe and Middle East; moreover, it contributes to facilitate communications and the day-by-day activities required to put into practice the Project.
Some of the involved Third Countries are currently facing a peculiar phase of their history, in some cases very difficult social and political conditions: in order not to frustrate the efforts to achieve the goals and to avoid situations of paralysis, the network of relationships that support the entire Project is strong, motivated and proven.
Interest and capacity to create a network for the mobility of students, researchers, academic and administrative staff, in multidisciplinary fields, with the possibility to mutually recognize the studies carried on abroad, thanks to the experience made in the management of international mobility through high quality of study programmes and mutual exchange of university credits and services.
In order to guarantee a workable academic flow (students/teachers/staff) which matches the training needs of Middle Eastern partners, the Consortium has made an accurate analysis about:
- quality/quantity of the courses offered by the partners, especially at PhD and Post-Doc level (a broad spectrum of humanities and sciences courses, offered also in English by very qualified teachers);
- the ability and expertise of each partner University in dealing with students, scholars, and researchers, having previously shown to possess high levels of teaching, management and problem-solving skills;
- high level conditions and services to welcome and to host students which make very pleasant their stay abroad, in absolute respect of social, cultural and religious differences. The Universities of the Partnership have been chosen according to a high quality of their socio-cultural environment and of their study context, which surely facilitate the integration of people involved.
The choice of the acronym DUNIA BEAM reveals the essence of the Project. DUNIA means world in Arabic, and BEAM means ray of light.
The selection of two words, one in Arabic and another in English, emphasizes the presence of an academic link between Europe and the Middle East, by respecting the socio-cultural traditions of each one and treating them as equal.
The sunshine over the world, that enters into things and lights them, is the knowledge that elevates and allows people to find good jobs, to make a good career, and thereby to reach a high quality of life, above all it opens the minds to the dialogue with other cultures and creates strong and lasting relationships, which contribute to the progress of humanity.
Furthermore, it wants to be a “beacon of hope” for a better future for people who are experiencing a troubled moment in history, a chance to find balanced solutions for a serene and peaceful development.
DUNIA BEAM is a project funded by European Union through Erasmus Mundus Programme.
