CIMEA Middle East

CIMEA opens its Regional Office in Middle East-Palestine, dedicated to academic mobility, recognition of qualifications, and internationalization of higher education.

A strategic bridge between Europe and Middle East.

Palestine

International Centre for Academic Mobility, Recognition and Internationalisation in Higher Education

About CIMEA Middle East

CIMEA Middle East operates as a regional hub of CIMEA (Information Centre on Academic Mobility and Equivalence), extending its expertise and services to Middle East countries while strengthening cooperation with Europe.

The Centre supports academic mobility, recognition of qualifications, and internationalisation of higher education systems by providing expert, scientific, methodological, and organizational services to public institutions, universities, employers, and individuals.

Building on the consolidated cooperation between CIMEA and ANNU – leading university in the region – CIMEA Middle East will serve as a bridge between education and research ecosystem in Italy, Palestine, Europe and the Middle East.

Governance
Director of the center: Dr. Saed Khayyat, An-Najah National University

Mission

The mission of CIMEA Middle East is to work on the following cross-cutting priorities:

Lifelong learning and micro-credentials as a driver to improve the capacity of the higher education system to respond to global challenges
Training, research, and community development to improve the skills and competencies of professionals in the higher education sector
Internationalisation strategy of higher education institutions and research centres
Preventing and countering education fraud

The Centre operates in line with international standards, including the principles of the European Higher Education Area and Lisbon Recognition Convention, and applies comparative, case-by-case evaluation methodologies consistent with European best practices.

Long-term vision

CIMEA Middle East aims to become:

A regional reference centre for qualification recognition and quality assurance
A micro-credential hub in the region, supporting new institutions in developing and issuing micro-credentials
A research centre on the prevention and counteraction of education fraud

In the long term, the Centre will contribute to harmonising higher education systems, supporting sustainable internationalisation and fostering the mobility of students, staff and faculty across the region.”

This regional education transformation is driven by four strategic pillars:

Quality Label and Standards

The initiative aims to strengthen the quality and recognition of learning – including micro credentials and short learning programmes – by developing a quality label framework aligned with international standards for institutions across the region

Blockchain-based solutions in education

The action focuses on the implementation of blockchain-based solutions to introduce a secure digital certification infrastructure and enable trustworthy and transparent recognition procedures

Training and Community

The initiative aims to strengthen institutional capacity by developing targeted training programmes, establishing a knowledge sharing network, supporting research and publication activities, and building a sustainable community of practice

Internationalisation and anti-fraud strategies

The initiative seeks to enhance the attractiveness of higher education institutions in the region, strengthen efforts to prevent and counter education fraud, engage in international projects, and build strategic partnerships

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What we do

CIMEA Middle East provides a comprehensive range of services

Regional Hub

The establishment of CIMEA Middle East is a response to the growing needs for internationalisation and digital innovation for this area

Collaborations

CIMEA Middle East works in close synergy with national and international stakeholders