PACE Tunisia

Entrepreneurial thinking and acting as a key competence for more innovation, knowledge-based start-ups and employability

Together with the universities of Tunis El Manar and Sousse, the University of Kassel was able to set a good example of successful international cooperation. Over a period of four years (2019-2022), intensive joint work was carried out to establish entrepreneurial thinking and acting as a key competence in teaching at North African universities. This was to be developed both in the various degree courses and in the general university and educational area.

Thanks to the close cooperation, visible successes and significant progress in university development were achieved, that lead to two new valuable partnerships.

In 2019, the cooperation between the Université Tunis El Manar, the Université de Sousse and the University of Kassel started with ambitious goals as part of the PACE project (la pensée et l'action entrepreneuriales pour augmenter la capacité des emplois) funded by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service). The Tunisian universities involved were to be transformed into "Entrepreneurial Universities" through an institutional change in structures and programmes. Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Brigitte Halbfas, former Director and Professor of Entrepreneurship Education, and Christian Martin, Managing Director of the leading business unit "Entrepreneurial Thinking and Acting", all project goals were achieved over the four years. Regular and close exchange as well as mutual visits by the partner universities contributed significantly to the successful implementation of new concepts.

The aim of the project was to increase the employability of graduates and support knowledge-based business start-ups. To this end, start-up consultancy services were introduced on site, more specifically their scope and competence were expanded and supplemented with components, such as the start-up school, patent search and advice. "Training-of-trainers" also helped to strengthen the teaching and learning skills of teachers.

Project objectives / sub-projects

  1. development of a university-wide strategy to promote entrepreneurial thinking and acting at the two partner universities in Sousse and Tunis El Manar
  2. promoting entrepreneurial thinking and acting as a key qualification in teaching at the two partner universities
  3. developing and expanding the teaching and learning skills of university teachers through a Training- of -trainers for entrepreneurial thinking and acting at the two partner universities
  4. development and expansion of university start-up consultancy and support at the two partner universities
  5. the development of a format for a university idea workshop

Objectives / products

  1. a strategy paper has been available at the universities of Tunis el Manar and Sousse since October 2020. The implementation of the strategies was decided by the committees.
  2. Has been successful as part of the development of ToT manuals. The project group was established in 2020. Entrepreneurship education was introduced. Design-Thinking workshops have been conceptualised.
  3. (1) Two written training concepts have been available as Training-of-trainers (ToT) manuals since 2020 in Sousse and 2021 in Tunis. (2) Four ToT in Design-Thinking were conducted according to training concepts.
  4. In year three, the sub-project work was organised in an agile manner and initial concept ideas were developed. Team coaching was provided for this purpose. Cooperation paths to network partners have been established.
  5. (1) Concepts for internal university idea workshops are available. (2) A first pilot run by the two partner universities took place from 21 to 27 October 2022 and has been evaluated. The final events with the 15 and 14 final ideas took place on 27 November in Tunis and 31 October in Sousse

The project was concluded with the organisation of university idea workshops at the end of 2022, which initiated and supported the concrete practical implementation of the entrepreneurial ideas and plans.

More than 40 students took part in this challenge and presented their ideas in Tunis and Sousse in front of an international jury made up of university lecturers and external partners.

A jointly developed, long-term strategy that extends beyond the project period ensures progress towards a stronger orientation of university education towards the needs of the labour market and promotes the sustainable development of the participating North African university locations of Tunis and Sousse. All participants on both the Kassel and Tunisian sides were highly satisfied with the progress of the project and the results achieved.

In view of the successful outcome, further cooperation with the Tunisian universities is planned.

Entrepreneurial Universities in Africa (EpU): DAAD call for proposals to strengthen the labour market orientation of universities in Africa. The project in Kassel was funded by the DAAD with almost 500.000€.

Founded in 1987 as a public university, Tunis El Manar brings together the oldest and most renowned higher education and research institutions in Tunisia. It was recognised as the best university in Tunisia in the University Ranking by CWUR 2022/2023. The UTM offers a high-quality educational programme that is geared towards the needs of society and has a multidisciplinary focus. With 35.000 students, it is one of the largest universities in the country.

The university in Tunisia's third largest city was founded in 1986 and is responsible for the academic and educational supervision of the institutions in the governorates of Sousse, Monastir, Kairouan and Mahdia. It offers a wide range of academic and vocational training in the fields of basic sciences and medicine. Around 29,000 students study in Sousse.

Contact person

Christian Martin

Head of Entrepreneurial Thinking and Acting Institute
Courses, projects and cooperations
Project Leader PACE

UniKasselTransfer
Universitätsplatz 12, 34109 Kassel
c.martin@uni-kassel.de