Rome, 26th February 2025 – The Vice-President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, and the Italian Minister of Health, Orazio Schillaci, addressed the conference ‘Health and Innovation in the Mattei Plan: New Educational and Cross-Cultural Perspectives for International Health Cooperation’ at UniCamillus in Rome.
During the meeting, the Integrated Transcultural Educational Synergy in Health Sciences (ITESHS) project, funded by the European Union under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), led by UniCamillus together with the University of Chieti-Pescara and the University of Foggia and aimed at improving higher education and the development of health skills in Africa, thus strengthening international cooperation and dialogue with developing countries, was presented.
The ITESHS project, a bridge to Africa
Thanks to ITESHS, the quality of Italian medical education will be transferred to Somalia, Cameroon and Ethiopia, where the foundations will be laid for a stronger and more independent health system. UniCamillus and the University of Mogadishu will launch an MSc programme in physiotherapy, with a period of international mobility for Somali students and tutors, who will participate in workshops and seminars in Rome. The programme will also include a postgraduate course in orthopaedics and traumatology, aimed at Somali medical practitioners already working in the three main hospitals in Mogadishu, to provide them with training specific to local treatment needs. The University of Chieti-Pescara and the University of Addis Ababa have planned activities to strengthen research and teaching, with the creation of an online digital platform for cognitive enhancement and serious games that will allow Italian and Ethiopian students to work together. Students and tutors will also receive training in psychological research. The University of Foggia and the Hanseatic Institute of Technology and Applied Sciences (HITAS) in Cameroon will promote the integration and inclusion of African students in an international academic pathway, enabling them to acquire nursing skills through innovative methodologies and technologies.
The project has three main objectives: strengthening healthcare skills through the creation of course programmes; promoting international mobility programmes to encourage the exchange of experience and knowledge between students and tutors; and developing local infrastructure and technology, such as orthopaedic laboratories and computer rooms, to support training in the local area.
Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said: “The health and research projects of the Mattei Plan are essential to support the development of the African continent and to achieve tangible results. In the context of migration, it is essential to improve the living conditions of Africans, especially children, many of whom have a life expectancy of only one to three years. This is why investing in research and health is a priority. Every initiative in this direction contributes to Africa’s development, and we have a duty to play a leading role in supporting its growth. I strongly support the project presented today at UniCamillus because I believe it is essential to respond to the African continent’s call for better living conditions, putting people first and strengthening human ties. In this context, universities are the most effective tool for building bridges and solid relationships with new generations, promoting a future based on cooperation and mutual growth”.
“Today’s conference marks a milestone for the project, which is a perfect example of international collaboration based on sound principles of constructive cooperation”, said Gianni Profita, Rector of UniCamillus. “Thanks to the work of Italian universities”, he continued, “health education in Somalia, Cameroon and Ethiopia will be improved, laying the foundations for a more autonomous and resilient system, less dependent on episodic humanitarian activities. Through the joint work of Italian and African partner universities, the aim is to train highly qualified health professionals in the field, capable of responding to the needs of their communities with competence and dedication. This initiative, financed by European funds under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), not only strengthens local healthcare in Africa, but also reaffirms the importance of quality training and international partnership, fully supporting sustainable development objectives and thus creating important opportunities for mutual growth. The presence of important ministers confirms the strategic nature of the project, in which Italian academic excellence, quality healthcare and the prospect of positive interaction between Italy and the three African countries, with the active participation of Minister Tajani, are at the forefront”.
Maryan Mohamed Hussein, Somali Minister of Health, said: “It is a great honour for me to be here today representing the Federal Government of Somalia for the official launch of the ITESHS project. This initiative marks a milestone in the long and fruitful partnership between Somalia and Italy, particularly in promoting health and education. The ITESHS project offers a transformative opportunity to strengthen our cooperation in medical education and health systems development. Initiatives such as this will enable us to train more qualified professionals, increase access to healthcare and ultimately improve the well-being of our people. On behalf of the Federal Government of Somalia, I express my deepest appreciation to the Italian Government, UniCamillus and all supporting partners for their unwavering support to this cause”.
Orazio Schillaci, Italian Minister of Health, through a written statement read out by Rector Gianni Profita, said: “International cooperation, training and research are essential to improve global health and strengthen health systems. The ITESHS project is a valuable initiative that fits into this perspective and promotes constructive collaboration between institutions. Sharing knowledge and skills is now essential to overcome geographical and cultural barriers and have a tangible impact on communities, especially at a time when technological and digital innovations are increasingly central to health policy. The Mattei Plan for Africa, to which the government is fully committed, is a key strategy to accompany and support African countries in building stronger and more autonomous health systems, investing in the training of new professionals and strengthening health facilities. I would like to thank UniCamillus and the other universities involved for their valuable and continuous commitment”.
According to Marcella Panucci, Advisor to the Minister for University and Research, “the project is part of the NRRP and promotes transnational education initiatives. There are already cooperation initiatives that our universities have established with the African continent, promoting exchanges and mobility of students, researchers and tutors. The aim is to develop the African continent’s capacity to promote education in order to strengthen relations and contribute to mutual academic and scientific development”.
“The University of Foggia has always believed in education as a driver of progress and inclusion, and with the ITESHS project it is strengthening its commitment to international health education”, said Lorenzo Lo Muzio, Rector of the University of Foggia. “Thanks to the collaboration with the University of Douala, the BSc in Nursing programme launched in Cameroon will be further developed with an innovative training model that will allow our University to award 90 ECTS credits through an integrated teaching approach. This course combines in-depth theoretical study with intensive practical activity, using advanced simulation laboratories and internships in the units of our hospital, offering students in Cameroon an excellent training experience”. Lo Muzio added: “ITESHS is not just an academic project, but a bridge between cultures and an opportunity for mutual growth for the students, tutors and institutions involved. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those who have made this ambitious project possible and whose contribution has been crucial to its development and effectiveness, to the Rectors of the partner universities, to Professor Gaetano Serviddio, Director of the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Project Coordinator for our University, and to all the tutors and technical and administrative staff involved, whose dedication and professionalism are the real driving force behind this initiative. I sincerely hope that ITESHS can become a reference model for international cooperation in the health sector, contributing to the construction of a future in which knowledge and care can overcome all borders”.
Liborio Stuppia, Rector of the G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, said: “The project represents an important opportunity. At our University, we are developing innovative teaching through a platform that allows us to provide information remotely. We have also launched initiatives related to mobility, aware that exchanges between cultures are a source of mutual enrichment. Strengthening cooperation and research in the field of health is essential to provide effective responses and promote shared growth”.
Among the participants at the event were Hassan Osman Ga’al (Rector, Somali National University, Somalia), Maurice K. Kamga (Rector, Hanseatic Institute of Technology and Applied Sciences (HITAS), Cameroon), and Kassahun Habtamu (Scientific project coordinator, University of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia).
ITESHS (Integrated Transcultural Educational Synergy in Health Sciences): National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) – Mission 4 – Component 1 – Investment 3.4 – SubMeasure T4 – Funded by the European Union – Next GenerationEU – CUP code: D81I24000270006 – Project code: TNE23-00083
https://unicamillus.org
