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TAM Report / Algeria - HEIs and greening

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Petya Mitova • 15 December 2025
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GENERAL INFORMATION

TAM title: Higher Education and Greening in Algeria and Lebanon

Type of Event: Workshop

Modality: Hybrid (presential in Algeria and online for Lebanon)

Country: Algeria and Lebanon

Dates: 20 – 21 November 2024

Participants: The event gathered 32 participants in presence and 109 online. The participants included managers of HEIs, national experts and policy makers from Algeria and Lebanon with the contributions of experts from Tunisia and Jordan, national experts and policy makers from the Algerian and Lebanese sectors involved in energy and environment issues, CEO of companies working in renewables, QA experts, HEREs and students.

              

THEMES COVERED

  • Greening the campus – challenges and opportunities.
  • Local vs. European greening approaches and strategies
  • Integrating greening into the curriculum.
  • Greening culture and engagement: students, instructors, community.
  • National policy and institutional support for greening.

 

KEY OUTCOMES

During the workshop, participants:

  • Gained a clearer understanding of how HEIs could shift from being conservation actors to becoming active change agents.
  • Learned from Algerian, Lebanese, European, and regional initiatives on greening in higher education.
  • Explored opportunities for stronger synergies and collaborations among HEIs and with non-academic stakeholders such as industry, local communities, and international bodies.
  • Deepened their understanding of how institutional sustainability plans could be developed, including infrastructure, awareness, and dedicated structures for greening.
  • Examined ways to integrate greening into curricula, aligning courses and programmes with the SDGs while promoting skills-based learning and entrepreneurship.
  • Reflected on the central role of student engagement and considered mechanisms to foster a culture of environmental responsibility on campus.
  • Recognised the importance of community-engaged research and discussed how students could meaningfully participate in sustainability-related research.

OVERVIEW

The Regional Technical Assistance Mission (TAM) on Higher Education and Greening in Algeria and Lebanon brought together policymakers, university managers, HERE members, students, and experts from Algeria, Lebanon, Tunisia, Jordan, and Europe. Over two days, the event explored diverse dimensions of greening higher education, including campus infrastructure, curriculum reform, community engagement, and the alignment of institutional and national policies with global sustainability trends. Through keynote presentations, 17 expert interventions, thematic sessions, Q&A exchanges, and a roadmap discussion, participants gained exposure to both European and regional experiences in integrating sustainability into institutional missions and practices.

The sessions facilitated reflection on the transformative role of higher education institutions in addressing environmental challenges, the importance of student engagement, and the need for institutional synergies. The concluding discussions highlighted the urgent need to shift HEIs from passive actors to proactive change agents, emphasizing cross-sector collaboration, stronger policy frameworks, and the adoption of comprehensive sustainability strategies to guide long-term action.

 

THE FOLLOW UP ACTIVITY

Title of the activity: Wide disseminations of recommendations on Higher Education and Greening in Algeria and Lebanon

Dates: 3, 10 and 12th December 2024

Audience: The activity brought together HEREs from Algeria and Lebanon, supported by two EU experts who had participated in the original TAM.

Description: The event aimed to disseminate nationally the main results of the Technical Assistance Mission (TAM) on greening in higher education and to consolidate the recommendations that emerged from the discussions. It focused on promoting greening strategies that align with national regulations, strengthening HEIs’ engagement in sustainability initiatives, and examining key obstacles such as limited resources, skills gaps, weak governance, and insufficient political commitment.

A focus group composed of HEREs from Algeria and Lebanon, together with the two EU experts, reviewed and refined the TAM recommendations. The updated document will be shared with all TAM participants, HEIs, ministries, and relevant national and international stakeholders. By informing policy dialogue, encouraging exchange of practices, and stimulating debate, the activity is expected to support future greening initiatives and contribute to ongoing higher education policy development.

 

ENHANCING IMPACT: PROPOSED NEXT STEPS

  • Position HEIs as proactive leaders driving transformative sustainability efforts.
  • Implement comprehensive, context-responsive sustainability strategies across institutions.
  • Integrate sustainability meaningfully into curricula, teaching methods, and learning experiences.
  • Enhance collaboration among HEIs and strengthen partnerships with external stakeholders.
  • Promote strong student engagement and cultivate a culture of environmental responsibility.
  • Advance inclusive and equitable greening approaches that reflect local needs and realities.
  • Secure long-term funding and reinforce governance capacities to support greening initiatives.

 

RESOURCES AND BACKGROUND MATERIAL

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