The region is likely to continue to display rapid and sudden developments during coming decades. Demographically the region will almost double its population by 2050. Researchers and teachers at the Centre for Middle Eastern Studies are heavily involved in externally funded capacity building projects in countries ranging from Algeria in the west to Kazakhstan in the east.
In March, within an EU-funded H2020 project, the Centre is arranging a spring school aiming at improving sustainability and resilience of Tunisian agriculture in view of climate change.
In April, we are arranging a twinning conference between Lund University and 7 universities in northern Iraq to support development of research and education the conflict-ridden region.
In a recently funded Swedish Institute project, researchers will develop academic collaboration with scholars from Turkey whose academic freedom are implicitly or explicitly violated. By use of seminars, at least 500 participants will be reached and it is expected that about 20,000 people will follow developed podcasts and vodcasts.
Thus, Lund University, through the Centre´s activities, vigorously works for a societal impact in the Middle East and strives towards better understanding, explaining, and improving the human conditions in the area.
Ronny Berndtsson, acting director CMES