Successful Kick-Off Meeting Marks the Start of the TANZIE Project

On May 6th and 7th, 2025, the University of Alicante, coordinator of the TANZIE project, hosted the official kick-off meeting of this Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) project, co-funded by the European Commission. The event brought together the following project partners from Africa and Europe to officially launch the initiative and lay the foundation for the collaborative work ahead: Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU), Mzumbe University (MU), Muslim University of Morogoro (MUM), The Nelson Mandela African Institute of Sciences (NM-AIST), Catholic University of Health And Allied Sciences (CUHAS), University Of Saarland (USAAR), EFMD, and University of Alicante (UA)

The meeting opened with institutional welcomes from representatives of the University of Alicante, including Juan Llopis, Director for Institutional Relations & Projects and Carolina Madeleine, Director of the Institutional Project Management Office (OGPI). These opening remarks were followed by an engaging icebreaker session that helped establish a collaborative atmosphere among participants.

A highlight of the first day was a panel discussion on the role of higher education institutions in addressing global challenges. The panel featured guest participants and was moderated by a representative of the University of Alicante, sparking meaningful dialogue on the strategic role of universities in sustainable development and international cooperation.

The project team then shared presentations outlining the project’s objectives, structure, and anticipated impact. Representatives from partner institutions, including Tanzania Commission for Universities and the University of Alicante, presented their visions and expectations for this project.

During day 1 of the meeting, sessions addressed key aspects of Erasmus+ CBHE projects, including EU expectations related to impact and sustainability, general management guidelines, and communication and dissemination strategies. Day 2 of the event was devoted to a more in-depth discussion about the project activities and expected, exploring the project’s six work packages, covering all relevant topics and focusing on the ongoing project activities.

All project partners took part in presentations and discussions, contributing their expertise and aligning on next steps. The meeting concluded with a clear roadmap for the project’s initial implementation phase and a shared commitment to advancing the project's goals.

The kick-off meeting provided an excellent opportunity for partners to build connections, gain a deeper understanding of the project’s framework, and establish a strong foundation for future collaboration. With a shared vision and coordinated plan of action, the consortium is now well-positioned to begin the implementation of this important capacity-building initiative.