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 of TU Dortmund University addresses the role of the media in reporting on migration and mobility while promoting the development of an African narrative on these issues. The aim of the project is to design and develop an online course for aspiring and practicing journalists from sub-Saharan Africa in four languages: English, French, Portuguese and Kiswahili.

During the three-year project period (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 partners in Europe (University of Dortmund and ISCTE-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa in Portugal) will develop and implement an innovative and interactive e-learning tool to enable better reporting on migration and mobility. 

This distance learning course will train journalism students and practicing journalists to report on migration issues in a way that is research-based, uses reliable data sources, adheres to ethical journalistic principles, communicates competently with the audience and, where possible, practices collaborative journalism. Associated partners include six other African countries (Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, Ethiopia and Guinea-Bissau) and other non-academic institutions. 

The aim is to promote innovation for media development by strengthening the links between research and professional practice and promoting an African perspective on these issues. To this end, four research reports have been published analyzing the needs and challenges of e-learning in the different areas envisaged. 

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

See everything about CoMMPASS in 180 seconds in this video.