This mission aimed to drive a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, and to structure the Student's Personal and Professional Project (PPPE) within Algerian Higher Education and Research Institutions (EESR).
The event, held in person at IPTICAR's premises and at the National Higher School of Agronomy (ENSA), brought together incubator managers, researchers, and teacher-researchers representing nine higher education institutions (USTHB, ENP, EPAU, ENSA, Algiers 3, Algiers 1, ENSH, ENSSMAL, and EHEC).
A Student Support Program: the PPPE
April 6: Immersion in the Innovation Ecosystem and Introduction to the PPPE
The first day introduced the challenges of IPTICAR's component 2 to the new partner institutions. The expert shared the experience of the Alsace region and ENGEES in supporting students through the PPPE. Discussions laid the groundwork for the format and key steps needed to build an individualized pathway for Algerian students.
April 7–8: Practical Workshops on the Competency-Based Approach and the PPPE Pathway
These two days were devoted to the competency-based approach, defining the concept of a pedagogical matrix, and developing a competency framework for a degree program based on professional situations linked to the training programs. Several examples were presented, notably those from the approach implemented by ENGEES, as well as the one recommended by France's Commission des Titres d'Ingénieur (CTI). Participants also drafted PPPE pathway models integrated into current curricula to enhance professional integration and internships. Each institution produced two deliverables: a matrix linking professional situations to competency frameworks, and a competency matrix developed for a teaching unit.
Implementation arrangements for the PPPE and a draft pathway were proposed. Each institution was able to produce a draft model for setting up its own PPPE pathway.
April 9: Designing the Inter-Institutional "Innovation Challenge"
The fourth day was devoted to organizing the innovation challenge. Discussions covered the type of event to set up — an innovation marathon or sprint — as well as general organizational arrangements: the themes to address, the number of participants, and the practical running of the challenge. There should be six themes, with 5 students per group. There would be 30 winners in total, i.e., one winning team per theme. The challenge aims to address real-world problems faced by socioeconomic actors and to involve multidisciplinary teams.
Next Steps:
This collaborative work is laying the groundwork for drafting a guide and a national framework for the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS) to support the wider rollout of the PPPE. In addition, the mission's deployment will continue over the coming months in other regions of the country, notably Constantine, Sétif, Biskra, and Annaba, as well as in the west (Oran, Tlemcen, Mostaganem), in order to strengthen the alignment of Euro-Algerian innovation governance practices.
Next steps :
This collaborative fieldwork prepares the ground for drafting a guide and a national framework for the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS) to support the generalization of the PPPE. Furthermore, the deployment of this mission will continue in the coming months across other regions of the country, notably in Constantine, Sétif, Biskra, Annaba, as well as in the west (Oran, Tlemcen, Mostaganem), in order to consolidate the alignment of innovation governance practices.Algerian.