The first CIVIS Africa-Europe Forum on research and education has officially opened in Casablanca, bringing together leading academics and experts from across Africa and Europe to collaboration and tackle global challenges.
The inaugural CIVIS Africa-Europe Forum kicked off on Wednesday at Hassan II University of Casablanca, gathering a distinguished group of scientists, researchers, academics, and institutional leaders from both continents.
The event, running until March 27, is part of the CIVIS Alliance—a network that includes 11 European and six African universities—aimed at strengthening academic and scientific cooperation between Africa and Europe.
Held under the theme of dialogue and co-construction, the forum seeks to deliver practical solutions to today’s global challenges, particularly in areas such as global health, climate change, and digital and social transformations. It also highlights the role of higher education as a key driver of sustainable development.
In his opening remarks, Hussein Ezzdok stated that hosting the forum reflects Morocco’s commitment to international openness and the reinforcement of Euro-African partnerships. He emphasized the university’s role as a platform for knowledge exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration, and joint scientific production addressing societal issues.
Stefan Lang described the forum as a structural milestone in strengthening academic partnerships between the two continents. In a statement, he highlighted the importance of combining expertise and fostering a shared vision to address global challenges through diverse cultural and scientific perspectives.
For his part, Mustapha Lakhdar noted that the forum focuses on several strategic themes, including environmental challenges, health, digital transformation, and social change.
He added that the event brings together around 200 researchers and academics from European and African universities, alongside representatives of national academic institutions.
The program of this first edition includes interactive workshops, roundtables, thematic discussions, and presentations of research findings. It also features sessions aimed at strengthening engagement between academic stakeholders and civil society.
The forum will conclude with the signing of an African Charter for Scientific Research by participating universities, including 11 European and six African institutions. This step aims to establish a long-term academic partnership based on knowledge sharing and collaborative research, reinforcing ties between higher education institutions across both continents.
