Summary

In 2007, the Higher Education Reform Experts (HERE) network was established with the primary goal of supporting the modernization efforts in higher education within Partner Countries neighboring the EU. Originating from the Tempus IV program, this initiative demonstrated considerable success and consequently transitioned into the Erasmus+ Programme.

To bolster the network’s capabilities and offer centralized training and networking opportunities, the European Commission has continued its support through the ‘SPHERE’ Initiative (Centralized Support to the Network of Higher Education Reform Experts). Presently overseen by the SPHERE Team, a consortium led by OBREAL Global (Coordinator) and the European University Association (EUA), acting as a service provider for the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), this initiative provides a range of targeted activities. These activities include seminars, study visits, technical assistance missions, as well as communication and dissemination efforts tailored to the needs of the HERE Network and national HERE Teams.

The initiative focuses on partner countries, each of which is represented by a national HERE Team. These countries include:

– Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

– Eastern Partnership: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

– Southern Mediterranean: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine*, Tunisia

– Western Balkans: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo**, Montenegro

Through the concerted efforts of the SPHERE Initiative, the HERE Network, and its national teams, collaborative endeavors aim to advance higher education reforms and foster sustainable development across diverse regions.