The Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Maria Tripodi, spoke today in Rome at the event “Empowering higher education in Africa: Italy and the UNESCO Chair Network”, organised by the coordination network of Italian UNESCO Chairs (ReCUI) and the Treccani Institute of the Italian Encyclopaedia.
“The Italian Government has a clear strategic vision for Africa, embodied in the Mattei Plan, where education is one of the cornerstones”, commented the Undersecretary. “Our universities can become key reference points for the future leadership classes of Africa, and for this reason, at the initiative of Minister Antonio Tajani, we have doubled the number of scholarships awarded to the most deserving students for the current academic year”.
“In this context”, Tripodi continued, “it is essential to strengthen dialogue with African universities and the activities of the UNESCO Chair Network, which represents an exceptional tool for projecting our values, enhancing the quality of local higher education, and contributing to a future of prosperity, inclusion, and stability for the African continent. The cultural heritage we must safeguard is that of the values and education of African youth. ReCUI can always count on Italy’s steadfast support”, concluded the Undersecretary.
