13.07.2026 Strengthening Cooperation Through Erasmus + Staff Mobility: Merian Center for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb´s “Team Tunis” Visits CNMS again

As part of the Erasmus+ Staff Mobility Program, I had the opportunity to spend one week at Philipps University Marburg from 25 June to 1 July 2026. This mobility took place in my dual role as MECAM (Merian Center for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb) Fellow Coordinator and Collaborator at the Liaison Office of Philipps University Marburg in Tunisia.

The primary objective of this stay was to deepen cooperation between the MECAM teams in Tunis and Marburg, gain first-hand insight into the working structures at the Centre for Near and Middle Eastern Studies (CNMS), and further strengthen the institutional links between Philipps University Marburg and its Tunisian partner universities.

During my stay, I had the pleasure of meeting Prof. Rachid Ouaissa, Prof. Albrecht Fuess, Prof. Nessim Znaien, Prof. Esther Möller and Dr. Christian Junge. We discussed MECAM's activities, current academic developments, and future perspectives for collaboration. These exchanges provided an excellent opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the academic environment in Marburg and to reflect on new ways of strengthening the project's international network.

A central part of my mobility consisted of meetings with colleagues from the International Office. These discussions gave me a much deeper understanding of the practical management of international mobility, the Erasmus+ framework, and the cooperation mechanisms connecting Philipps University Marburg with its Tunisian partner institutions, particularly the Universities of Tunis and Sfax. As a collaborator at the Liaison Office in Tunisia, these exchanges will directly support my daily work in assisting researchers, students and administrative staff involved in mobility programs.

Another valuable experience was the opportunity to shadow several colleagues at the MECAM office. In particular, shadowing Julia Hermann, Secretary for Foreign Languages, allowed me to gain valuable insight into the administrative processes behind MECAM's daily activities. Observing these workflows firsthand helped me better understand the coordination required between Marburg and Tunis and identify ways in which our collaboration can become even more efficient.

I also had the pleasure of meeting in person several colleagues from MECAM´s Team Marburg with whom I regularly collaborate, including Pia Wagner, Administrative Manager, Benjamin Heidrich, Project Coordinator Germany, and the two student assistants, Dorra Talbi and Lina Leonhardt. These face-to-face exchanges further strengthened our professional relationships and facilitated discussions on future cooperation.

Beyond the administrative dimension, I was delighted to present my research during the Halqa Arabiyya colloquium at CNMS. The presentation, followed by a stimulating discussion with Dr. Assem Hefny, Johanna Fuchs and the audience, created an inspiring space for academic exchange and once again highlighted the importance of dialogue across disciplines, institutions, and countries.

The program also included a guided tour of Philipps University Marburg and the historic city of Marburg, offering valuable insights into the university's institutional environment and its long academic tradition. Experiencing both the campus and the city helped me better understand the context in which our German colleagues work and reinforced my sense of belonging to a shared academic community.

Above all, this Erasmus+ mobility confirmed something that cannot be learned through emails or online meetings alone: nothing can replace direct human contact. Meeting colleagues face to face made it possible to build stronger professional relationships, deepen mutual trust, and gain a better understanding of each other's responsibilities and working methods. These personal exchanges also created valuable opportunities to reflect together on how communication, coordination and joint initiatives can be further improved in the future.

I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the directors of MECAM, Prof. Emna Beltaief and Dr. Julius Dihstelhoff, as well as to the Scientific Coordinator, Dr. Raoul Cyril Humpert, for their support and for making this mobility possible.

I returned to Tunisia with new knowledge, stronger professional connections and renewed motivation to continue fostering cooperation between MECAM, Philipps University Marburg and our Tunisian partners. This experience clearly demonstrated that international staff mobility is not only an investment in professional development, but also in building the human relationships that make successful international cooperation possible. 

 

Faten Bouchrara

The Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb is a research centre for interdisciplinary research and academic exchange based in Tunis. It promotes the internationalization of research in the humanities and social sciences across the Mediterranean. Under its guiding theme “Imagining Futures –Dealing with Disparity”, MECAM aims to discuss the (re)negotiation of complex social and political conditions and expectations, norms and legacies in the wake of the “Arab Spring” in the Maghreb, the Middle East, Europe and beyond. The Merian Centre for Advanced Study in the Maghreb is supported by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and mainly administered by Philipps-Universität Marburg.