Faten Bouchrara

( Collaborator at the liaison office )

Date of visit:  Fom 25 June to 1 July 2026

As part of the Erasmus+ Staff Mobility Program, I spent one week at Philipps University Marburg from 25 June to 1 July 2026, in my dual role as MECAM Fellow Coordinator and Collaborator at the Philipps University Marburg Liaison Office in Tunisia.

The mobility aimed to strengthen cooperation between the MECAM teams in Tunis and Marburg, gain insight into the working structures of the Centre for Near and Middle Eastern Studies (CNMS), and further develop institutional cooperation between Philipps University Marburg and its Tunisian partner universities.

During my stay, I met Prof. Rachid Ouaissa, Prof. Albrecht Fuess, Prof. Nessim Znaien, Prof. Esther Möller and Dr. Christian Junge to discuss MECAM’s activities, academic developments and future cooperation. Meetings with colleagues from the International Office provided valuable insights into international mobility management, the Erasmus+ framework, and cooperation with the Universities of Tunis and Sfax, directly supporting my work at the Liaison Office.

I also had the opportunity to job-shadow colleagues at the MECAM office, particularly Julia Hermann, Secretary for Foreign Languages, gaining a better understanding of administrative workflows and coordination between Tunis and Marburg. Meeting colleagues from the MECAM Team Marburg—Pia Wagner, Benjamin Heidrich, Dorra Talbi and Lina Leonhardt—also strengthened our professional collaboration.

An important academic highlight was the presentation of my research at the Halqa Arabiyya colloquium at CNMS, followed by an engaging discussion with Dr. Assem Hefny, Johanna Fuchs and the audience. The programme also included a guided tour of Philipps University Marburg and the historic city of Marburg.

The mobility demonstrated the particular value of face-to-face exchange in strengthening professional relationships, mutual understanding and trust. I returned to Tunisia with new knowledge, stronger professional connections and renewed motivation to contribute to cooperation between MECAM, Philipps University Marburg and Tunisian partner institutions.

I sincerely thank Prof. Emna Beltaief, Dr. Julius Dihstelhoff and Dr. Raoul Cyril Humpert for their support in making this mobility possible.

Pia Wagner

( Administrative Management )

Date of visit:  Fom 23  to 27 September 2024

As part of the ERASMUS Staff Mobility program, I spent one week at the University of Tunis and the MECAM office. During my stay, I had the chance to meet and get to know the local colleagues and deepen existing contacts, which greatly enhanced mutual trust and collaboration. I was warmly welcomed and supported in all matters by Mohamed Alyani, Dr. Amel Guizani, and Dr. Imène Khefacha Trabelsi.

At an official meeting, I was welcomed by the President of the University of Tunis and had the opportunity to speak with Yassine Khaled, who is responsible for international exchange. We emphasized the importance of the MECAM project and discussed ways to strengthen collaboration and international exchange between students, faculty, and administrative staff of Philipps University Marburg and the Université de Tunis. Dr. Julius Dihstelhoff, our project coordinator, highlighted important approaches, particularly regarding the Liaison Office, which will soon be staffed again.

During my time there, I gained valuable insights into the working methods and circumstances in Tunis, and I consider my stay to be a truly enriching experience.

Mohamed ALYANI 

( Office Manager of the MECAM Coordination Office )

Date of visit: From 23 to 30 June 2024

“I´m proud of all the international university cooperation” – by using these words, Mohamed Alyani who is the manager of the coordination office of the Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM: www.mecam.tn) in Tunis, left Marburg after having stayed at the Centre for Near and Middle Eastern Studies (CNMS), which is part of the Philipps-Universität, for almost a week. Mr Alyani used the so-called Erasmus+ Staff-Mobility Program which had made his stay in Marburg possible.

MECAM is mainly coordinated by the Université Tunis and Philipps-Universität Marburg. As part of his stay, Mr Alyani learned a lot about the local working methods and structures of the MECAM as well as the general university structures and operating processes in Marburg. Especially meeting the Marburg colleagues (some of them for the very first time) was helpful not only for being involved in current challenges but, primarily, as a trust-building measure: to deepen the insight and understanding of each other´s work. In this respect, it is only logical that with Mrs Pia Wagner (Financial Administration) and Mrs Julia Hermann (Foreign Language Secretary) two of our Marburg MECAM team members will also join the Erasmus+ Staff Mobility Program within 2024/2025, then vice versa: from Marburg to Tunis! Therewith, they go along with Mr Alyani´s advice: “I would like to encourage all the members of MECAM to develop this close link between the team members in Tunisia and Germany to pursue MECAM´s main mission!” Not least because this mentioned mission contains the expansion and the growth of international cooperations – the Erasmus+ Staff Mobility Program has been supporting this actively.

In principle, the program is open to all employees of the Philipps-Universität Marburg, inter alia: general and technical administration, library, financial departments, faculties, study guidance etc. They all are given the opportunity of a stay abroad with an European university or a foreign corporation. The Erasmus+ Staff Mobility Program is designed for continuing education and further study, it paves the way for unique qualification opportunities with regard to the respective areas of responsibility and even beyond.

Generally, stays between two and five days (plus travelling days) can be promoted. For further information, please have a look at link

But not only by offering the Erasmus+ Staff Mobility Program the Philipps-Universität Marburg has been a significant supporter during MECAM´s main phase; there is a lot more worth to be mentioned: since 2021, a professorship for modern Maghreb Studies has been established, a liaison office in Tunis including a locally-based employee has been created, and last but not least: the additional funding of formats and instruments as well as the provision of mobility scholarships for doctoral students.