From Tallinn to Maputo: Strengthening Digital Transformation Through Academic Partnership

A delegation from Tallinn University’s School of Digital Technologies recently visited Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (UEM) in Maputo, Mozambique, within the framework of an Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility initiative to support UEM’s ongoing digital transformation. The visit built on an established collaboration between the two universities, focusing on strengthening their shared understanding of current initiatives and future cooperation pathways.

The Tallinn University delegation included Professor David Lamas, Professor Merja Bauters, Junior Research Fellow Débora Conceição Firmino de Souza, and Development Cooperation Coordinator Kristina Kalvet. During the visit, the team engaged in a range of academic and strategic activities, with Débora Conceição Firmino de Souza continuing on-site work beyond the delegation’s visit to support the digitalisation project and related workshop activities.

A key element of the programme was participation in a workshop organised by the SPIDER Centre at Stockholm University, bringing together international partners and practitioners working on digital development. The delegation also met with UEM’s Cooperation Office to exchange updates on ongoing collaboration, discuss future mobility opportunities, and explore possibilities linked to the AISS programme, including encouraging UEM students to apply.

Further meetings took place at UEM’s School of Communications and Arts, where discussions focused on academic pathways and collaboration opportunities, including a potential doctoral position for a faculty member. The school also expressed a strong interest in strengthening ties with Tallinn University’s Baltic Film, Media and Arts School and in participating in the Best of BFM festival in 2026.

The visit concluded with a meeting with the Rector of Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, during which the next steps in digital transformation were discussed, along with plans for a reciprocal visit by UEM’s leadership to Tallinn University and other Estonian universities in 2026. Additional discussions covered emerging ideas for joint master’s and doctoral programmes, ongoing work supported by the World Bank, and an introductory meeting with AdRMM to explore potential areas of cooperation. Overall, the visit provided valuable opportunities to reconnect with partners, align strategic priorities, and advance concrete actions supporting digital transformation and long-term collaboration between the two institutions.