Summary

Established in 2007, the Higher Education Reform Experts (HERE) network was created to support the modernization of higher education in EU neighboring partner countries. Originally launched under the Tempus IV program, the initiative proved highly successful and was subsequently integrated into the Erasmus+ Programme.

To further strengthen the network’s capacity, the European Commission has continued its support through the SPHERE Initiative (Centralized Support to the Network of Higher Education Reform Experts).

Managed by the SPHERE Team — a consortium led by OBREAL (Coordinator) and the European University Association (EUA) — this initiative serves as a provider for the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), offering a wide range of activities. These include seminars, study visits, technical assistance missions, and tailored communication and dissemination efforts to meet the needs of the HERE Network and its national teams.

The initiative focuses on partner countries, each 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 coordinated efforts of the SPHERE Initiative, the HERE Network, and its national teams, the program aims to drive higher education reforms and foster sustainable development across diverse regions.