The MOOCs of the project Science Hubs for Advanced Research & Education with Africa (SHARE_AFRICA) are designed to strengthen scientific and educational cooperation between Italy and Africa, offering opportunities for growth and international collaboration. Originating from the experience of the Italian Foundation for Higher Education with Africa (IHEA), active since 2020, the courses and activities of SHARE_AFRICA aim to create new spaces for shared knowledge, research, and innovation.
Through an inclusive and peer-to-peer approach, the project supports young researchers and lecturers in the early stages of their academic careers, promoting the development of skills and long-term relationships. The first science hubs were launched in Tunisia and Ethiopia, becoming key reference points for building lasting connections between Italian and African institutions in the fields of education and research.
The program addresses global challenges and shared priorities, such as the ecological and digital transition, the resilience of education and research systems, and the strengthening of scientific diplomacy between the African Unionand the European Union. Through joint master’s programs, collaborative research activities, co-supervisions, and the use of open-source tools, SHARE_AFRICA aims to develop innovative solutions and train a new generation of Italian–African scientific ambassadors.
- Docente: Giorgio Besagni
- Docente: Elena Calandri
- Docente: Marzia Florindi
- Docente: Giorgia Giovannetti
- Docente: Eleonora Minelli
- Docente: Amanda Tedeschi
- Docente: Francesco Tonini
This course introduces the concept of cultural geopolitics and the strategic role of cultural heritage in fragile contexts. We explore different models of development and resilience, the geopolitical implications of international aid, and real-world examples of multilateral cooperation in Africa. Through expert insights and interactive materials, you will discover how culture becomes a powerful tool for inclusive governance and rebalancing.
- Docente: MariaTeresa Iaquinta
This course offers a comprehensive guide to writing and publishing scientific papers, with a focus on practical skills and understanding the academic publishing process. Lesson 1 introduces the fundamentals of publishing, covering international conferences and journals in Unit 1.1. Unit 1.2 dives into finding a proper Journal focusing on scope, editorial boards, and identifying hot topics and trends. Unit 1.3 continues with how to measure the impact of publication exploring journal and research metrics. Lesson 2 emphasize manuscript preparation. Unit 2.1 discusses crafting an impactful abstract, including graphical abstracts and provides a detailed breakdown of paper structure, from authorship and keywords to the introduction, methods, results, and conclusions. Unit 2.2 guides participants through paper submission, including editorial handling and the review process. Finally, Unit 2.3 focuses on the peer review process, teaching the purpose of reviews, basics of reviewing, and how to write effective reports.
- Docente: Giorgio Besagni
- Docente: Francesco Tonini
- Docente: Giorgia Giovannetti
The module offers a structured and updated overview of the main funding opportunities for researchers at European and international level. The focus is twofold:
1. on the one hand, the main European funding tools for the development of academic careers and for the construction of competitive project proposals will be presented;
2. on the other, to broaden the view beyond the borders of the European Union, the international calls and tenders (EU and non-EU) accessible to researchers from North Africa, through bilateral and multilateral cooperation programs, in particular those involving Italy, the European Commission, UN agencies and other Euro-Mediterranean regional bodies will be highlighted. The aim of the module is to provide participants with a practical and strategic guide, combining opportunity mapping, operational application tools and applied design cases.
- Docente: Amanda Tedeschi
The course introduces students to the main issues of the ethics of scientific research and technology, with specific attention to their declination in the African context. The course consists of three units.
Lesson 1 examines the historical development, after the Second World War, of the awareness of the criticalities of research in various fields: medical, natural sciences, social sciences, and the elaboration of standards and institutions by national and international researchers, institutions and bodies, characterized by the growing importance of technology.
Lesson 2 provides definitions of essential concepts and recognized principles, highlighting how there are principles and standards valid in all areas of research and its applications.
Lesson 3 highlights how norms, principles and institutions have global application and validity, and on the other hand also have specific declinations in different socio-political contexts, including in the African one of which some aspects are explored.
- Docente: Elena Calandri
The MOOC is part of the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) project Science Hubs for Advanced Research & Education with Africa (SHARE_AFRICA). The course aims to provide essential skills for drafting competitive research proposals for European funding. The focus is on transforming an idea into a concrete project, with particular attention to defining research objectives, describing methodologies, and planning the budget. Finally, it explores what happens after the proposal is submitted, including the evaluation processes and how to prepare for them. By the end of the MOOC, participants will understand the evaluators' expectations and will be able to draft more effective and targeted research proposals.
- Docente: Marzia Florindi
- Docente: Eleonora Minelli