About

MANDELA – Multilateralism through Negotiation and Cultural Diplomacy Education in the Levant and Africa is an Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) project that strengthens higher education institutions in Israel, Ghana, and Ethiopia through curriculum innovation and institutional development.

The project brings together universities and civil society partners from Israel, Ghana, Ethiopia, Romania, Austria, and Germany to develop sustainable academic frameworks in negotiation, cultural diplomacy, and multilateral dialogue.

MANDELA focuses on embedding these thematic areas into accredited university courses, training academic staff, and creating structured methodological toolkits and learning resources. By integrating dialogue-based and values-driven approaches into higher education systems, the project contributes to institutional modernization, international cooperation, and stronger academic engagement with complex societal realities.

Funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ programme, MANDELA supports structural capacity building and long-term cooperation between the Levant and Africa within a European partnership framework.

Project Objectives

Enhance Higher Education Quality

Integrating innovative pedagogies (VaKE, PBL) into courses to equip students with skills in Cultural Diplomacy, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, and Intercultural Understanding.

Improve Student Competencies & Employability

Developing new and innovative education programs that promote communication, intercultural skills, and employability potential.

Promote Inclusive Education

Advancing equality, equity, and non-discrimination by empowering teaching faculty, students, and communities, particularly those facing discrimination or limited opportunities.

Train & Develop Teachers

Implementing a 'train the trainer' model to develop faculty expertise in EU best practices, ensuring sustainable professional growth and long-term quality improvement.

VISION

MANDELA envisions higher education institutions as active actors in promoting multilateralism, democratic engagement, and peaceful dialogue in diverse and complex societies.

The project seeks to strengthen universities as spaces where intercultural understanding, negotiation competences, and cultural diplomacy are integrated into teaching, institutional practice, and regional cooperation.

MISION

MANDELA’s mission is to modernize higher education curricula and institutional capacities by:

Developing accredited courses and academic modules in negotiation and cultural diplomacy
Training academic staff through innovative, practice-based methodologies
Creating sustainable teaching toolkits and digital learning resources
Strengthening cooperation between universities and civil society
Promoting multilateral academic partnerships between Europe, the Levant, and Africa

TARGET AUDIENCE

MANDELA engages multiple stakeholders within and beyond higher education:

University academic staff and curriculum developers
Undergraduate and graduate students
University leadership and institutional decision-makers
Civil society organizations and community partners
Policy stakeholders involved in higher education and social development