Project Results
The overall objective is to promote the birth of Italo-African Science Hubs to sustain long-term cooperation in Education and Research between the Italian and African Academic Systems by means of joint Education and Research Ambassadors while providing policy recommendation to empowering science diplomacy.
Check out all the specific objectives:
Digital Education for Share Africa
The MOOCs commissioned from the Federica Web Learning Center—the University Center for innovation, experimentation, and dissemination of multimedia education at the University of Naples Federico II—for the SHARE Project amount to 12 courses, for a total of 18 ECTS credits: 6 ECTS for the cross-cutting modules (1 ECTS per MOOC) and 12 ECTS for the specialized MOOCs within the BEPs (2 ECTS per MOOC).
The cross-cutting MOOCs (COMMON MODULES) have already been completed. All MOOCs related to the individual BEPs have been commissioned but are not yet completed, with the exception of the course developed by the University of Florence, which experienced delays in the appointment of the instructor and will begin MOOC production on January 14.
A visual identity, several communication materials, and a landing page bringing together the full SHARE MOOC offering have been developed for the project: https://www.federica.eu/federica-pro/share-africa
From a long-term sustainability perspective (Project WP5), the MOOCs will remain available on the platform for the following five years and will be freely accessible to all users, not only SHARE students. At present, the MOOCs are accessible only to students via an access key (Share2025); a registration guide prepared and distributed to partner universities is attached. The courses will be opened to all users—without an access key and with enrollment in individual MOOCs—starting in January 2026.
The same page will also host the MOOCs related to the individual BEPs, which are currently only announced, with a gradual release starting at the end of January 2026. The syllabi for all 12 MOOCs have been collected, including the course title, a brief description, and the instructor’s bio. However, the descriptions for BEPs 5 and 6, which are experiencing delays in the production workflow, may be subject to revisions by the instructors and the project team.
Below is the list of MOOCs, including title, URL, and description.
Common Modules
The MOOC is about Effective Drafting of a European Research Proposal and is part of the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) project Science Hubs for Advanced Research & Education with Africa (SHARE_AFRICA). The course aims to provide essential skills for drafting competitive research proposals for European funding. The focus is on transforming an idea into a concrete project, with particular attention to defining research objectives, describing methodologies, and planning the budget. Finally, it explores what happens after the proposal is submitted, including the evaluation processes and how to prepare for them. By the end of the MOOC, participants will understand the evaluators’ expectations and will be able to draft more effective and targeted research proposals.
The course examines the concept of sustainable development, its evolving definitions, and the trade-offs between economic progress and environmental costs. It delves into the parameters and indices used to assess recent progress in sustainable development and evaluates whether current trends can be reversed. A particular focus is given to environmental degradation, identifying its global and regional drivers, with special attention to its impact on African societies and their limited adaptive capacities. The discussion also addresses how Africa is engaging with global value chains as a path to internationalization, analyzing specialization patterns, country-specific cases, and how firms have shown resilience in response to external shocks (E.G Covid, war, trade wars)- resilience.
Finally, the lecture explores climate change as a critical challenge to sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the region’s vulnerability due to factors such as rapid population growth, urbanization, expansion of extractive industries, and deforestation, which have all contributed to rising levels of environmental degradation and the emergence of environmental displacement.
This course offers a comprehensive guide to writing and publishing scientific papers, with a focus on practical skills and understanding the academic publishing process.
Lesson 1 introduces the fundamentals of publishing, covering international conferences and journals in the first parts dives into finding a proper Journal focusing on scope, editorial boards, and identifying hot topics and trends. Then learning materials continue with how to measure the impact of publication exploring journal and research metrics.
Lesson 2 emphasize manuscript preparation: discusses crafting an impactful abstract, including graphical abstracts and provides a detailed breakdown of paper structure, from authorship and keywords to the introduction, methods, results, and conclusions.
Lesson 3 is about the impact of publication.
This MOOC is a part of common modules and offers a structured and updated overview of the main funding opportunities for researchers at European and international level. The focus is twofold:
1. on the one hand, the main European funding tools for the development of academic careers and for the construction of competitive project proposals will be presented;
2. on the other, to broaden the view beyond the borders of the European Union, the international calls and tenders (EU and non-EU) accessible to researchers from North Africa, through bilateral and multilateral cooperation programs, in particular those involving Italy, the European Commission, UN agencies and other Euro-Mediterranean regional bodies will be highlighted. The aim of the module is to provide participants with a practical and strategic guide, combining opportunity mapping, operational application tools and applied design cases.
- Multilateral Cooperation for Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development in Africa – University of Rome- Sapienza
The course explores the role of geopolitics in international cooperation, with a particular focus on sustainable development and the preservation of cultural heritage in Africa. Through an analysis of global actors, economic dynamics, and cultural conservation strategies, the course provides tools to understand the impact of international policies on the African continent. Topics will include geopolitical mapping, natural resources, economic diplomacy, conservation strategies, and practices for enhancing cultural heritage, with concrete examples of applied cooperation projects.
The course introduces students to the main issues of the ethics of scientific research and technology, with specific attention to their declination in the African context. The course consists of three units.
Lesson 1 examines the historical development, after the Second World War, of the awareness of the criticalities of research in various fields: medical, natural sciences, social sciences, and the elaboration of standards and institutions by national and international researchers, institutions and bodies, characterized by the growing importance of technology.
Lesson 2 provides definitions of essential concepts and recognized principles, highlighting how there are principles and standards valid in all areas of research and its applications.
Lesson 3 highlights how norms, principles and institutions have global application and validity, and on the other hand also have specific declinations in different socio-political contexts, including in the African one of which some aspects are explored.
Specific Objective 1 (SO1): Empower Innovative Education
6 Blended Executive Programmes (BEPs, “TNE-Advanced Skills”, ~20 equivalent ECTS each), aligned with EU missions and focused on ecological and digital transitions.
- Expected Results:
- Co-designed pilot BEPs between Italian and African institutions
- Delivery via open science and MOOC platforms
- Capacity building for Early Career Academicians, including design of equivalent BSc/MSc local courses
- For Each BEP, a specific MOOC is implemented in addition to the common MOOCs.
6 Blended Executive Programmes or BEP (“TNE-Advanced Skills”):
This course has been developed within the IHEA – Share Africa program, with the aim of training professionals capable of operating in complex geopolitical and cultural contexts, through the enhancement of heritage. The course explores the role of geopolitics in international cooperation, with particular attention to sustainable development and the protection of cultural heritage in Africa. Through an analysis of global actors, economic dynamics, and cultural conservation strategies, the course provides tools to understand the impact of international policies on the African continent. Topics such as geopolitical mapping, economic diplomacy, legal instruments, and practices for enhancing cultural heritage will be examined, with examples drawn from concrete projects and an interdisciplinary perspective.
The course leverages the expertise of professionals active in UNESCO, ICCROM, ICOMOS, UNIDROIT, Treccani, and field research, offering an interdisciplinary approach that combines legal, diplomatic, and anthropological methods. The goal is to equip students with practical and critical tools to address the challenges of cultural cooperation and sustainable development in the African context.
The MOOC delves into the crucial concept of Quality Infrastructure (QI), defined as the comprehensive system of organizations, policies, and practices ensuring the quality, safety, and environmental soundness of goods and services. Focusing specifically on Africa, the course highlights QI’s indispensable role in facilitating trade, enhancing market access, and fostering economic growth and competitiveness across the continent. Participants will learn how robust QI frameworks are essential for supporting social well-being, driving skills development, and safeguarding public health and the environment. The program further explores how QI acts as a catalyst for innovation and industrial development, providing practical insights into its implementation. Ultimately, this course positions Quality Infrastructure as a foundational element for achieving sustainable development and safety in Africa.
Food Science and SDGs is a course designed to explore the intersection of food science and sustainable development. Divided into four comprehensive units, it offers a structured approach to understanding key challenges and solutions in the food sector. Divided into four units, it provides a comprehensive understanding of how the food sector contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The first unit focuses on SDG 2 – Zero Hunger, examining strategies to eradicate hunger and enhance food security through sustainable practices. The second unit delves into SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production, highlighting innovations and policies that promote resource efficiency and waste reduction in food systems. The third unit addresses SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation, emphasizing the importance of water management and sanitation in ensuring food safety and sustainability. The final unit offers an overview of the remaining SDGs, showcasing their interconnectedness and relevance to food science. This course equips participants with critical insights and tools to foster sustainable practices across the food industry, aligning with global sustainability goals.
This MOOC is specifically designed for young researchers and professionals seeking advanced training in this crucial field. The course offers a unique opportunity to develop cutting-edge knowledge in Hydrological and hydraulic modeling and Innovative water monitoring techniques. The MOOC is organized around three key pillars. The first, Water Monitoring and Modelling, focuses on remote sensing applications for monitoring droughts and plant diseases, allowing participants to gain hands-on experience with advanced hydrological techniques. They will learn to assess and model water resources and hydrological systems, including water quality monitoring and modeling. The second pillar, Water Governance and Distribution Systems, explores effective technologies and policies for climate-resilient water management, emphasizing the optimization of water supply and distribution infrastructures for sustainability and efficiency, as well as desalination processes to ensure a safe water supply.
Lastly, Agricultural Water Management takes an integrated approach to address specific challenges in agricultural water use, emphasizing the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus and sustainable solutions within it. This module incorporates cutting-edge technologies for precision agriculture and crop modeling, while also examining the connection between food security and virtual water trade.
This MOOC explores the fundamental role of energy in human and social development, addressing the critical challenge of achieving sustainable and just energy access in an era of geopolitical uncertainties. It delves into the environmental, economic, and social dimensions of energy, emphasizing the persistent global inequalities in access. The course advocates for comprehensive strategic energy planning, moving beyond technical solutions to integrate social realities and development goals. Participants will gain insights into frameworks like the Comprehensive Energy Solution Planning (CESP), designed to foster local, sustainable, and equitable energy systems. This approach provides operational and critical tools for navigating complex energy landscapes.
This MOOC is about gender medicine, virus and epidemic. Taking a transversal approach across all areas of Medicine, which includes also infectious diseases and immunity, it examines how differences in genetics, hormones, and environmental factors affect disease frequency, risk factors, symptoms, and treatment response, with the aim to improve diagnosis, management, and prevention. It is expected to gain the value of taking a gender-specific approach for disease management to improve equity in the treatment and health system resource utilization.
Specific Objective 2 (SO2): The SHARE_Africa PhD Scholarship Scheme For Research-capacity and mobility
The SHARE_Africa PhD Research Scholarships have been awarded based on a joint identification of research arguments (aligned with the Educational Portfolio) and the visiting periods are being conducted in specific research groups within the Italian and African Research Ecosystem to equip African PhD candidates with competence in specific fields and/or research capacity.
12 outstanding PhD Candidates from Tunisia, Tanzania, Algeria, Uganda, Ethiopia have been selected through a public call for applicatio9ns: the majority of them are already in Italy and the remaining ones are in the process of joining the Italian hosting Universities.
The candidates have chosen one of the following research areas corresponding to the Blended Intensive courses proposed in 2025/26 under the SHARE_Africa project by the six universities.
Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism |
Innovative technologies for sustainable water management |
One Health, Global Health, Planetary Health |
Precision Agriculture and Sustainable Food |
Strategic Energy Planning and Industrial Ecology for Local Sustainable and Just Development in an era of geopolitical uncertainties |
Sustainable business for new challenges |
Project platforms
One of the key outcomes of the Share Africa project is the development of a dedicated project presentation platform, which provides a clear and comprehensive overview of the initiative. The platform describes the project’s objectives, activities, and main results, and presents the partners involved in its implementation. In addition, a Moodle-based platform is also available and will be used to host and deliver the project’s MOOCs, ensuring open and structured access to the learning content developed within the project.