There are projects that begin as training programmes and end up becoming something quite different: a network of people, a shared language, a form of mutual presence that endures even after the activities have come to an end. ITESHS (Integrated Transcultural Educational Synergy in Health Sciences) is a case in point.
Conceived and coordinated by UniCamillus University in collaboration with the University of Chieti-Pescara and the University of Foggia, the project has built an international training network involving the Somali National University, Addis Ababa University and the Hanseatic Institute of Technology and Applied Sciences (HITAS) in Cameroon.
The project was led by Professor Emiliano Maiani, UniCamillus Research Delegate and scientific director of the project, and Valentina Foscoli, Project Manager.
From the outset, the aim was not only to transfer knowledge, but to build skills where they are truly needed: training local healthcare professionals, strengthening fragile systems, and creating tangible opportunities in countries marked by structural difficulties, health emergencies and urgent healthcare needs. A vision that has brought together teaching, research, mobility and technology — but above all, people.
A journey lasting almost two years
The project, launched in September 2024 and funded by Next Generation EU, involved several international partnerships:
• UniCamillus with the Somali National University for Physiotherapy and Orthopaedics
• University of Foggia with HITAS in Cameroon for Nursing
• ‘Gabriele d’Annunzio’ University of Chieti-Pescara with Addis Ababa University for Psychology
ITESHS integrated theoretical lectures, practical workshops, international mobility and advanced digital platforms, including virtual laboratories and serious games.
In February 2025, UniCamillus officially presented the project during the conference ‘Health and Innovation in the Mattei Plan’, which was attended by Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who emphasised the value of healthcare training as a driver of social development, whilst Rector Gianni Profita described ITESHS as a model of international cooperation based on skills and human values.
UniCamillus, Physiotherapy and Orthopaedics in Somalia
As already mentioned, within this framework of joint work, the MSc in Physiotherapy was developed, starting from a concrete analysis of the needs of the Somali healthcare system and with an approach designed to respond effectively to local requirements.
The blended learning model made it possible to combine pre-recorded video lectures by Italian lecturers, made available via the UniCamillus platforms, with face-to-face sessions led by Somali lecturers. This hybrid approach proved successful: students completed two exam sessions with very positive results, confirming the effectiveness of the training model even in challenging contexts.
In October 2025, the first tangible results were recorded: 15 Somali students completed the first semester and moved to Rome for practical training at the dedicated laboratory set up at UniCamillus. The Somali students spent two months on the UniCamillus campus, taking part in workshops, clinical simulations and hospital-based activities. The experience represented not only an advanced training opportunity but also a step towards personal and professional growth, strengthening their awareness of their role within the healthcare system.
At the same time, an advanced course in Orthopaedics was launched for 20 Somali physicians.
The work of the Third Mission team, coordinated by Professor Donatella Padua, gathered first-hand feedback from the students, highlighting a significant impact: enhanced skills, a stronger professional identity and a deeper sense of responsibility towards their home communities.
To support the programmes, the following resources were made available:
• the Ovid platform for access to scientific literature
• advanced digital teaching resources
• English language courses for around 60 students
Partner Activities in Psychology and Nursing
Within the Psychology programme between the ‘Gabriele d’Annunzio’ University and Addis Ababa University, mobility schemes, research and joint teaching activities have been developed, including seminars, thesis supervision and PhD programmes. The ELIGENCE platform has also been adapted to the Ethiopian context, enhancing the use of digital tools for training.
In Cameroon, the University of Foggia and HITAS have developed the Nursing programme using a blended learning model, integrating online training with practical activities and contributing to the harmonisation of training pathways.
A project that is coming to an end, but one that leaves a legacy
With just a few weeks to go before its official closure on 30th June 2026, ITESHS is not a project that is ending, but an experience that is taking root.
Over time, in fact, the project has built much more than an academic programme: it has created an integrated international healthcare training system, capable of adapting to different local contexts without compromising on quality or scientific rigour. A system that today is based on three main pillars: training, mobility and the continuous sharing of expertise.
We are now developing pathways for top graduates, placement strategies within the healthcare sector, and tools to support students as they enter the world of work.
It is not just about education, then, but continuity. Not just knowledge, but the future.
At the end of this journey, what stands out most clearly are not the figures, the courses or the mobility grants, but the people. Students who have travelled across continents to learn how to care for others. Tutors who have built educational bridges between different systems. Universities that have chosen to challenge themselves in order to build something together.
ITESHS remains here: in a network that continues to exist, in the skills acquired, in the relationships forged, and in the awareness that healthcare education can truly be a concrete form of cooperation between worlds.