Tunisia-UK Joint Research Workshop

A collaboration between the Tunisian Ministry of higher education, Beit El Hikma and St John’s College, University of Oxford. This is the first workshop of its kind devoted to Early Career Academics form both countries. It includes a public programme and more focused workshops, aiming at building networks and collaborations. The project has taken a year to complete and was shaped by an extensive academic committee coordinated by Mohamed-Salah Omri (Oxford). Professors Akila Sellami (Sfax); Samiha Khelifa (Mannouba); Mimoun Milliti (Kairouan) and Abdelhamid Henia shaped the programme and oversaw the full planning in collaboration with the Professor Mourad Bellassoued (DG of Scientific Research) and Madame Hayet Souai and Saida Rafrafi (Ministry) and Hela Wertani (Beit El Hikma). Generous funding was provided by the Ministry and St John’s College, with contribution by Beit El Hikma, Universites of Sfax, Sousse and Mannouba. The full programme is below.

Early Career Academic Workshop

Humanities and Social Sciences: crises and changes

Tunis, 29 February - 1 March 2024

Beit El Hikma, Carthage

Day 1 – 29 February 2024

8.00-9.00
Welcoming participants

9.00-9.30
Opening
Moderator: Abdelhamid Henia, Beit El Hikma

9.30- 10.00
Pause café

10.00-12.30
Session 1: Critical narratives of crises and changes
Moderator: Mimoun Melliti, University of Kairouan

- Kalthoum Belwefi, Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences, University of Sfax
The Interregnum as Site of Crisis in André Brink’s Other Lives

- Peter Hill, Department of Humanities, Northumbria University
Crisis and reason in Ottoman Syria: the conversions of Mikha’il Mishaqa (1800-1888)

- Rim Letaief, Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences, University of Sousse
The Crisis of American Democracy: The Mauritanian’s Exposure of America’s Corruptive Practices at Guantanamo Bay

- Dalenda Dani, Higher Institute of Fine Arts, University of Tunis 1
GRAPHIC DESIGN:  Creativity Crisis in the Age of Digitization and Artificial Intelligence

- Hela Oueslati, Higher Institute of Arts and Crafts, University of Kairouan
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on design education in Tunisian universities: Challenges and remedies

12.30-14.00
Lunch

14.00-16.00
Session 2: Borders and Crises
Moderator: Samiha Khelifa, University of Mannouba

 - Mingshu Wang, School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow
Regional integration in the Horn of Africa through the lens of inter-city connectivity

- Sghaira Benhmida, Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences, University of Sfax
Immigrants in the maritime space of Sfax since the 19th century: transformations and crises

- Janina Pescinski, School of Government and International Affairs, Durham University
The Tensions Between Bordering and Solidarity in Lampedusa

- Bernardo López Marín and Gianmaria Lenti, School of Government and International Affairs, Durham University 
The management and strengthening of the European border regime: The case of the Italian migration ‘crises’ and ‘invasion’; but for whom?

16.00-16.30
Coffee break

16.30-18.00
Session 3: title: Critical Reflections on humanities and social sciences
Moderator: Akila Sellami Baklouti, University of Sfax  

- Hannah Scott Deuchar, Department of Comparative Literatures and Cultures, Queen Mary University of London
Translation Studies and the Ends of Growth

- Emna Maazoun, Higher Institute of Computer Science, University of Sfax
Who Is Afraid of Covid-19: An Inherited Approach for the Future of EFL

- Sondes Ben Hamad, Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences, University of Sfax
A study on people's morals following economic crises in Ifrikya during the Hafsid period

19.00-22.00
Dinner and Networking

Day 2 – 1 March 2024

09.00- 11:00
Session 4: Beyond Crises
Moderator: Charles Tripp, Fellow of the British Academy

- Oussema Othmeni, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Sousse
Transitional Justice between Crisis Mitigation and Democratization: Assessing U.S. Policy Approaches on the Accommodation of Negative Peace in Post-Conflict and Post-Authoritarian Settings

- Akanksha Awal, School of Anthropology and Museum of Ethnography, University of Oxford
Love as Enjoyment: Intimacy, hopelessness, and desirable future

- Ayse Yildiz, School of Business / Member of the Institute for Environmental Futures, University of Leicester
Flood Community Resilience in the UK and Tunisia: A Comparative Analysis

- Khouloud Issaoui, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Sousse
From Crisis to Transformation: Discursive Shifts towards Transformative Change

11.00-11.30
Coffee break – end of public programme

11.30-13.00
Session 5: Research Funding in the UK
Moderator: Akila Sellami Baklouti, University of Sfax
Panel led by Charles Tripp (SOAS and Fellow of the British Academy), with contributions by Peter Hill (Northumbria University) and Janina Pescinski (Durham University).

13.00-14.30
Lunch

14.30-16.00
Parallel sessions – exchanges, synergies, challenges
Coffee available

16.00-17.00
Final session: reports from parallel sessions and publication plans
Moderator: Mohamed Salah Omri, University of Oxford  

18-:00 – 19:30
Reception at the residence of the UK ambassador in Tunis