Erasmus+ Project CoMMPASS

CoMMPASS stands for “Communicating Migration and Mobility – E-Learning Programs and Newsroom Applications for Sub-Saharan Africa.” This EU-funded Erasmus+ project addresses the role of the media in reporting on migration and mobility, a key challenge in the 21st century, while promoting the development of an African narrative on the issue.

In the three-year course of the project (2023-2026), a consortium of six partners in Africa (Makerere University and Ugandan Christian University in Uganda, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences and University of Livingstonia in Malawi, and Université Joseph-Ki-Zerbo and Université Thomas-Sankara in Burkina Faso) and two in Europe (Dortmund University and ISCTE-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa in Portugal) will design and launch an innovative and interactive e-learning tool to facilitate better coverage on migration and mobility.

This distance learning course will train journalism students and practising journalists in covering migration issues, in ways that are research-based, use reliable data sources, comply with ethical journalism, communicate with the audience proficiently and, if possible, practice collaborative journalism. Associated partners include six additional African countries (Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, Ethiopia, and Guinea-Bissau) 

The aim is to promote innovation for media development by strengthening the links between research and professional practice, in four key African languages (English, French, Portuguese and Swahili) and by promoting an African narrative on these issues. To this end, four research reports are planned to analyse the needs and challenges of e-learning in the various fields envisaged.

The project also supports the highly-needed digital transformation of higher education in sub-Saharan Africa. E-learning has been addressed by the National Councils for Higher Education and other relevant national strategies in partner countries as a key priority. Thus, CoMMPASS encourages regional co-operation and South-South alliances between journalism educators from different parts within sub-Saharan Africa.