In the frame of the SHARE_AFRICA Project, funded by the National Plan for Resilience and Recovery, and coordinated by the Italian Higher Education with Africa Foundation, the University of Padua organised the “UNIPD Meets Africa” international conference.

Two days of discussion, sharing, and planning brought together over 120 participants from 20 African universities and the six Italian partner universities of the SHARE Africa project in Padua.

The meeting marked not only the culmination of two years of collaboration, but also, above all, an opportunity to build a shared vision of future scientific and institutional relations between Italy and Africa.

The first morning was dedicated to the educational experiences developed within the project, recounted by Italian professors and colleagues from Tanzania and Ethiopia, who highlighted not only the scientific value of the activities undertaken, but also their human and social impact on the communities involved.

The subsequent sessions looked to the future, exploring new opportunities for joint research and training within European programs. The session dedicated to dialogue between universities, institutions, and businesses was particularly well attended.

The Italian Ambassador to Ghana, HE Laura Ranalli, effectively represented the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ prioritization of the African continent, emphasizing the crucial role universities play as co-protagonists of the so-called “Italian Cooperation System.”

Among the priorities identified for future collaboration were One Health, healthcare, sustainable agriculture, climate change, environmental protection, and the circular management of resources, along with less traditional but equally strategic sectors such as cinema, audiovisual media, and the media.