IIDEMIC Stakeholders’ Engagement Meeting in Somalia

Red Sea University, Bosaso, hosted an “IIDEMIC Stakeholders’ Engagement Meeting in Somalia”. The meeting aimed to facilitate consultations on the project titled “Inclusive and Innovative Digital Education for Migrant Community in Kenya and Somalia (IIDEMIC)”. This project is designed to enhance the skills of in-service teachers, with a particular focus on strengthening their 21st-century teaching and work-related competencies.

The IIDEMIC Project is implemented by a consortium of six partner institutions from various countries, including: Kenyatta University (the coordinator) and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (Kenya); Red Sea University and Mogadishu University (Somalia); Uniwersytet WSB Merito W Poznaniu (Poland); and Kutahya Dumlupinar University (Turkey). The project is funded by the European Commission under the ERASMUS+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) program.

The meeting was invited by the local government of Bosaso, represented by the Deputy Mayor, Mr. Bashir Farah Said. In his remarks, Mr. Bashir expressed strong support for the implementation of the IIDEMIC project and commented on the efforts of the international consortium, emphasizing the importance of aligning the project with long-term development goals in Somalia.

Several key stakeholders participated in the meeting, including UNHCR and National NGOs such as Tadamun Social Society and the Puntland Youth and Social Development Association (PSA). These organizations, which routinely provide educational support to refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), offered valuable input and recommendations to help ensure the success of the IIDEMIC project in Somalia.

In addition, principals from both primary and secondary schools attended the meeting. These schools employ the in-service teachers who are the primary beneficiaries of the IIDEMIC project, making their participation in the engagement meeting especially relevant and impactful.