The YHELD consortium successfully held its Final Conference in Cairo, Egypt, on 13–14 May 2026. The event was organised by Link Campus University and provided an opportunity to reflect on the achievements made during the project and define future directions for cooperation between Yemeni and European higher education institutions.
The conference brought together Yemeni and European universities, international experts, policymakers, and academic leaders, while ACEEU joined online in support of the consortium’s shared efforts to strengthen leadership, governance, and internationalisation capacities in Yemeni higher education.
Discussions in the conference centred around topics such as academic mobility, institutional partnerships, sustainability strategies, and how to develop long-term Euro-Yemeni cooperation for more globally connected higher education institutions.
One of the key highlights was the presentation of the newly established Yemeni IRO Network by Mohamed Ba Azab, Director of the International Relations Office at the University of Aden and YHELD local coordinator. The network aims to foster internationalisation processes, promote sustainable cooperation frameworks, align Yemeni universities with European and international higher education standards, and ensure continued collaboration among members.
Conversations also addressed what happens after the YHELD project officially ends, including how to ensure that the project results remain useful through institutional ownership, continued networking, long-term coordination, and clear communication so that the results can remain accessible and visible to relevant stakeholders.
The conference closed with the signing of Memoranda of Understanding between participating institutions, and the awarding of certificates to participants in recognition of their engagement and contribution to the YHELD project.
The event reinforced the importance of continued collaboration between Yemeni and European universities, institutional leaders, and international partners in supporting higher education development in Yemen.
Read more about the YHELD project and its results here: here
