This episode will be recorded on August 11, 2021.

There will be 3 segments : 

Segment 1 : post-NATO summit analysis, NATO 2030

Segment 2 : Geopolitical realities in the East Med

Segment 3 : Outside players, regional powers in the East Med (US, China, Russia, Iran)

GUEST : Prof. Dr. Vişne Korkmaz is professor of International Relations at Nisantasi University. She is vice-director of a research center, CEMES, Center of Mediterranean Security. Prof. Dr. Korkmaz has also given lectures at the National Defense University of the Turkish Republic on current affairs and regional security issues in the Middle East, Russia, Caucasus, and the national security strategies of Turkey. Her research interests cover IR theories, FP theories, regional security and security issues, Russian, American, and Turkish foreign policy. She is author of several books and has published several scholarly papers, chapters and articles on these issues, including newly launched contributions in the edited books of Nursin Guney (New Geopolitical Realities for Russia, From the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, Lexington, September 2019) and Banafsheh Keynoush (Iran’s Interregional Dynamics in the Near East, Peter Lang, April 2021). Her recent analysis which is entitled “Waiting for the Biden Administration: Can we expect a Change in EU-Russia relations?” was published by SETA Brussels, (https://www.setav.org/en/analysis-waiting-for-the-biden-administration-can-we-expect-a-change-in-eu-russia-relations/). She is columnist in Yeni Birlik and gives comments on international and foreign policy developments on regular basis to national tv and radio news channels.

This is the first episode in a new podcast series on higher education in Africa.  The paper referenced in this episode can be located here : https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344651090_Exploring_a_Regional_Meta-Approach_to_Harmonize_Quality_Assurance_and_Accreditation_for_Enhancing_the_Effectiveness_of_Public-Private_Higher_Education_Institution_Initiatives_in_Africa

This first episode will be about the privatisations of universities in Africa.

The discussion will be in 3 segments and be led by Dr. Abbes SEBIHI and Léonie SCHOELEN, Ph.D. :

1) Quality Assurance and Accreditation

2) Challenges and Harmonisation

3) Perspectives and Conclusions

Dr. Abbes SEBIHI has more than 20 years of project management experience in four continents, in the technology sector he has been working as IT expert for several companies including Bosch, Volkswagen, TüV Nord, ABB and IBM global service. During the past 11 years he has served the German Federal Enterprise for International Cooperation and Development (GIZ), contributing to a number of projects essentially in international higher education, Technical Vocational training and Digital learning , where he has been working as a team leader and other senior roles in cooperation with key stakeholders from Africa , Southeast Asia, Middle East and Europe, such as AU/HRST, European Union, UNESCO, UNEVOC, ASEAN, ILO, OECD, SEAMEO, BMZ, BMBF, ADB and more including policymakers, coalition partners, and researchers to identify policy opportunities and advance regional sustainable development goals.

Leonie SCHOELEN, Ph.D in Sociology and Education Sciences in December 2020, wrote her doctoral thesis on ” Facing the Global – Ambivalent Coping Strategies in the Algerian Academic Field“. After her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Politics and Society, International Relations and Peace and Conflict Studies in Germany, Ireland and Scotland, she started working as a consultant for GIZ German International Cooperation in India and Benin in the field of social aspects and community engagement of renewable energy supply, respectively, rural electrification.

This is the first episode in a new podcast series on higher education in Africa.

This first episode will be about the privatisations of universities in Africa.

The discussion will be in 3 segments and be led by Dr. Abbes SEBIHI and Léonie SCHOELEN, Ph.D. :

1) Quality Assurance and Accreditation

2) Challenges and Harmonisation

3) Perspectives and Conclusions

Dr. Abbes SEBIHI has more than 20 years of project management experience in four continents, in the technology sector he has been working as IT expert for several companies including Bosch, Volkswagen, TüV Nord, ABB and IBM global service. During the past 11 years he has served the German Federal Enterprise for International Cooperation and Development (GIZ), contributing to a number of projects essentially in international higher education, Technical Vocational training and Digital learning , where he has been working as a team leader and other senior roles in cooperation with key stakeholders from Africa , Southeast Asia, Middle East and Europe, such as AU/HRST, European Union, UNESCO, UNEVOC, ASEAN, ILO, OECD, SEAMEO, BMZ, BMBF, ADB and more including policymakers, coalition partners, and researchers to identify policy opportunities and advance regional sustainable development goals.

Leonie SCHOELEN, Ph.D in in Sociology and Education Sciences in December 2020, wrote her doctoral thesis on ” Facing the Global – Ambivalent Coping Strategies in the Algerian Academic Field“. After her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Politics and Society, International Relations and Peace and Conflict Studies in Germany, Ireland and Scotland, she started working as a consultant for GIZ German International Cooperation in India and Benin in the field of social aspects and community engagement of renewable energy supply, respectively, rural electrification.

Interview en trois parties avec le Professeur Nicolas Badaoui, Université Saint Esprit de Kaslik Beirut, Liban.

Nicolas Badaoui est professeur depuis une dizaine d'années aux universités libanaises, chercheur associé au CREC - St. CYR, France; American Alumni Professor - Fullbright, ancien conseiller parlementaires et ministériel au Liban; conseiller auprès de plusieurs sociétés régionales et internationales; et rédacteur de plusieurs publications (livres et articles)

Voici notre interview en 3 parties, en préambule de la préparation de notre séminaire les 28-30 septembre à Paris, intitulé "Vision 2022 pour la Méditerranée : Les Enjeux géopolitiques et géoéconomiques" :

1) Segment 1 :  Le Monde post-COVID : les conséquences politiques, économique et sociales

2) Segment 2 : Géopolitique : la rentrée des forces asiatiques en Méditerranée; Géoéconomie : les enjeux économiques, énergétiques et environnementales en Méditerranée

3) Segment 3 : Menaces sécuritaires, hard et hybride

Welcome to the members of our audience tuning in from Jordan, The Hashemite Kingdom! You are the 31st country tuning into our podcast.  Thank you, dear Zeina Barhoum!

Going up the list from the bottom, is Hong Kong, Cyprus, Republic of Lithuania, Bulgaria, Israel, Japan, Ivory Coast, Ukraine, and Romania.

Happy Summer to all our listeners in 31 countries and on 4 continents!

Here is an extract from Zeina Barhoum's biography taken from her website :  "Zeina Barhoum, aka The Arabic Soprano, is a Jordanian classically trained Soprano, who started her musical career in 1997. At an early age, she received the Best Soloist Award from the Eisteddfod competition. Barhoum obtained a Bsc in Visual Communication at the American University of Sharjah. She received private vocal coaching with Alberta Valentini, Walter Alberti and Tina Ruta. Barhoum has performed at benefits countless times for the benefit of women, children, peace and prosperity, which is clear in her performances in Jordan, UAE, London, Italy, Austria, France and Lebanon with renowned artists with renowned artists, including Italian Baritone, tutor Walter Alberti and Roberto Alagna. She also supports young talents in music and arts in the Arab region." Source : https://zeinabarhoum.com/about.html 

Segment 1 : Mes Débuts

Segment 2 : Mes métiers

Segment 3 : Ma mission

This episode will be the chance for Lt. General (ret.) Ben Hodges and Dr . Stephen Blank to weigh in on the NATO 2030 summit on June 14 , 2021.

This episode will be recorded on June 17.

There will be 3 segments.

Here  are the bios of our participanst :

Lieutenant General (Retired) Ben Hodges holds the Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Center for European Policy Analysis. He joined CEPA in February 2018.

A native of Quincy, Florida, Lt. General Hodges graduated from the United States Military Academy in May 1980 and was commissioned in the Infantry.

After his first assignment as an Infantry Lieutenant in Karlstadt, Germany, he commanded Infantry units at the Company, Battalion, and Brigade levels in the 101st Airborne Division, including Command of the First Brigade Combat Team “Bastogne” of the 101st Airborne Division in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (2003-2004). His other operational assignments include Chief of Operations for Multi-National Corps-Iraq in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (2005-2006) and Director of Operations, Regional Command South in Kandahar, Afghanistan (2009-2010).

General Hodges has also served in a variety of Joint and Army Staff positions to include Tactics Instructor; Chief of Plans, 2nd Infantry Division in Korea; Aide-de-Camp to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe; Chief of Staff, XVIII Airborne Corps; Director of the Pakistan Afghanistan Coordination Cell on the Joint Staff; Chief of Legislative Liaison for the United States Army; and Commander, NATO Allied Land Command (İzmir, Turkey). His last military assignment was as Commanding General, United States Army Europe (Wiesbaden, Germany) from 2014 to 2017. He retired from the U.S. Army in January 2018.

Dr.Stephen BLANK is an internationally recognized expert on Russian foreign and defense policies and international relations across the former Soviet Union. He is also a leading expert on European and Asian security, including energy issues. Since 2020 he has been a Senior Expert for Russia at the U.S. Institute of Peace and a Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. From 2013-2020 he was a Senior Fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council.

Link to Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's commencement address at Sciences Po, January 18, 2021 : https://www.nato.int/cps/fr/natohq/opinions_180709.htm 

Entretien en 3 parties avec Mourad Zeghidi sur la Tunisie  :  Segment 1 : Expérience démocratique, 10e anniversaire Segment 2 : La réussite de la démocratie  : pouvoir et contre-pouvoirs Segment 3 : La géostratégie de la Libye, grande voisine de la Tunisie

This is a special series of interviews (English and French) preceding the Green Economy Forum in Algiers, Algeria , November 15-17, 2021.

1) Présentation du Forum, vision et mission: 2 interviews en juillet

3) Recycling : 2 interviews en août

3) Energies renouvelables : 2 interviews en septembre

4) Agriculture et Infrastructure :  2 interviews en octobre

For more information on the Forum and to join us in Algiers : https://us-algeria-green-economy.org