The International Cooperation Office organised an engaging lecture yesterday by Prof. Francesco Canganella from the University of Tuscia (UNITUS), Italy. The lecture provided valuable insights into the Erasmus Mundus programme and the fruitful collaboration between UNITUS and SQU.

Prof. Canganella began with an introduction to the Erasmus Mundus programme, which is open to both students and staff, emphasising its significance in fostering international academic exchange and collaboration. He also highlighted the rich heritage of UNITUS, known for its historic architecture, high regional and global rankings, and advanced facilities. Additionally, he outlined the various fields of study offered at UNITUS across undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels.

The UNITUS-SQU Erasmus Project, which runs until July 2025, has already achieved several milestones. A memorandum of understanding has been signed, establishing a framework for collaboration and identifying shared research interests. Two bilateral workshops have been conducted, fostering deeper academic exchange between the institutions. Additionally, a collaborative research project focusing on camel physiology, nutrition, gut microbiota, and morphological image analysis has been launched. Looking ahead, plans are in place to organise a third bilateral workshop in April 2025 at SQU, which may also include business-to-business meetings to expand the scope of collaboration.

This lecture underscores the strong academic and research ties between SQU and UNITUS, contributing to mutual growth and innovation in areas of shared interest.