TAM Report / Palestine - Enhancing virtual mobility readiness

GENERAL INFORMATION

TAM title: Promoting and Enhancing Virtual Mobility ‎Readiness for Palestinian Universities ‎

Type of Event: Webinar

Modality: Online

Country: Palestine

Dates: 17 – 18 November 2025

Participants: The TAM webinar targeted a broad range of higher education stakeholders in Palestine, including staff from Higher Education Institutions working in International Relations Offices and relevant academic departments, Vice-Presidents responsible for planning, development, education and international relations, representatives of Centres for Digital Education, and officials from the Ministry of Higher Education. 

THEMES COVERED

• Definitions and rationale of virtual exchange and virtual mobility
• Objectives and foundational principles of virtual mobility initiatives
• European approaches and good practices in virtual exchange and mobility
• Stakeholder roles in quality assurance and continuous improvement
• Co-design approaches for virtual mobility programmes
• Recognition, accreditation, and certification of virtual mobility
• Strategic roadmapping for national and institutional implementation

KEY OUTCOMES

During the workshop, participants:

• Gained a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with virtual mobility and virtual exchange.
• Developed insight into design processes for virtual exchange and mobility programmes.
• Improved awareness of quality assurance, accreditation, and recognition mechanisms for virtual mobility.
• Strengthened coordination and alignment between higher education institutions and Ministry representatives.
• Contributed to the formulation of draft recommendations for national and institutional strategies on virtual mobility.

OVERVIEW

The Technical Assistance Mission “Promoting and Enhancing Virtual Mobility Readiness for Palestinian Universities” was organised under the framework of the National Erasmus+ HERE team in Palestine, the event formed part of a broader set of initiatives supporting national higher education reform.

The webinar focused on the growing role of virtual exchange and virtual mobility as innovative instruments to enhance intercultural learning, transversal skills, educational quality, and graduate employability. Through expert-led sessions and discussions, participants explored how virtual mobility initiatives can be designed, implemented, recognised, and quality-assured within the Palestinian higher education system, while aligning institutional practices with emerging European approaches.

THE FOLLOW UP ACTIVITY

Title of the activity: Follow-up workshop on strengthening higher education reform and policy implementation

Dates: January 2025

Audience: Representatives of the Ministry of Higher Education, higher education institutions, national agencies, and key stakeholders involved in higher education reform and policy development.

Description: The follow-up activity consisted of the organisation of a workshop aimed at consolidating the results of the Technical Assistance Mission and supporting the implementation of its recommendations. The activity brought together key stakeholders to review the main outcomes of the TAM, assess progress achieved since the mission, and exchange views on challenges and opportunities related to ongoing higher education reforms.

The discussions focused on identifying priority actions, strengthening institutional coordination, and enhancing the implementation of policy measures in line with the TAM recommendations. The workshop facilitated dialogue among policymakers, universities and other stakeholders, contributing to the translation of the mission’s results into concrete steps for improving higher education systems and their impact.

ENHANCING IMPACT: PROPOSED NEXT STEPS

• Ensure a clear institutional vision for virtual mobility, supported by senior leadership and well-trained techno-pedagogical and internationalisation staff.
• Recognise and reward teaching staff engagement in virtual mobility and exchange within career progression systems.
• Promote digital equity among institutions, including the establishment of a Ministry-level virtual mobility and exchange cooperation programme.
• Develop bylaws and regulations that place digital and virtual modalities on an equal footing with in-person mobility.
• Integrate virtual mobility outcomes into national higher education policies and institutional strategies, supported by training, inter-institutional collaboration, and monitoring mechanisms.

RESOURCES AND BACKGROUND MATERIAL

• European Commission (2020). European Universities Initiative: Connecting Higher Education Institutions. Brussels: European Commission.
• European Commission (2019). Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange: Connecting Young People across the Mediterranean. Brussels: European Commission.
• UNESCO (2021). Guidance on Quality Assurance and Recognition of Online and Blended Learning. Paris: UNESCO.