Learnings and insights on global cooperation – project coordinators gathered in Helsinki

Over two days, nearly one hundred participants gathered in Helsinki for the meeting organised by the International Higher Education Cooperation Unit of the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI).

The event mainly featured representatives from higher education institutions, along with a few from vocational education, participating in programmes supported by EDUFI, such as Team Finland Knowledge (TFK), the Higher Education Partnership (HEP), and Erasmus+ Capacity Building projects.

The event aimed to facilitate the exchange of experiences and knowledge, encourage mutual learning, and reinforce networks in support of cooperation with the Global South.

Building more equitable partnerships

The first day opened with a keynote speech from Emnet Tadesse Woldegiorgis, Associate Professor at the University of Johannesburg and Director of the Ali Mazrui Centre for Higher Education Studies, on trends and challenges in higher education development cooperation.

Woldegiorgis emphasised that in the core of Global South cooperation should be shared goals, accountability, and cultural sensitivity. "Ideally, all partnerships aim for mutual understanding," he noted.

Delving into the principles of cooperation, Woldegiorgis brought attention to the issue of structural inequality, asserting that inclusivity concerns must not be overlooked in development partnerships.

He argued that gender equality, women's rights, and social justice should be raised as key discussion points in all partnerships.

In his speech, Woldegiorgis also highlighted the growing trend of South-South partnerships, which focus particularly on the sharing of resources and knowledge. He cited the Pan African University network as a case in point.

To conclude, Woldegiorgis explored the challenges surrounding development cooperation in higher education. A key issue he highlighted was the fragmentation of goals and strategies among national, regional, and global actors. "Without coordination of agendas, efforts overlap, and opportunities to utilise resources and support are missed," he cautioned.

Reinforcing regional networks and considerations on Europe’s role

The afternoon continued, as requested by last year’s participants, with regional group discussions focused on exchanging experiences and networking within the groups from Eastern and Southern Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Within the groups, participants tackled practical concerns, including project management, selecting appropriate communication channels, managing language and cultural differences in partnerships, and reinforcing group dynamics.

The day concluded with a dialogue between Maija Airas, Head of the International Higher Education Cooperation Unit at the Finnish National Agency for Education, and Michael Hörig, Head of the Brussels office of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

The conversation covered the current situation and future prospects of European and global cooperation. Hörig pointed out that national interests are becoming increasingly prominent in Germany's development policy, and Airas confirmed that a similar trend is visible in Finland's new trade and development policy thinking. 

Both also noted the shift in focus, where the conversation has moved from education towards skills development. Hörig reflected on the growing perception of higher education as an investment, vital for enhancing individuals’ skills and competitiveness, both nationally and globally.

Projects shared experiences in networking meetings

The second day provided participants with the opportunity to delve into themes of responsibility and explore the practices of various projects in the network meetings.

During the Erasmus+ Capacity Building project meeting, discussions centred around how the EDUFI’s new ethical guidelines for collaboration with Global South partners could be implemented in project activities. A need to review the guidelines with Global South partners was highlighted. "The guidelines must form a collective policy, not just the principles of one side," one participant summarised.

Environmental responsibility was a key topic for TFK participants. Participants shared methods for tackling sustainable development challenges in collaboration with partner higher education institutions, and how their projects incorporate sustainability principles into their operations. Best practices and common challenges were further explored in small group discussions.

Meanwhile, in the HEP project meeting, the steering group convened for the first time to learn about the projects initiated in early 2024. The meeting emphasised synergies between projects, knowledge exchange, and the promotion of collaboration.

The two days spent with colleagues concluded on an enthusiastic and energised note. Participants left with new ideas and practical tools for developing their projects, as well as valuable contacts for future collaboration opportunities.