Pan Atlantic University (PAU) has joined an international consortium of 11 institutions across Europe and Africa to deliver skills training to 2,500 young people through the SYNAPSE Virtual Exchange Project, a three year initiative co funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ programme.

The project connects youths from Nigeria, Italy, Spain, Kenya, Namibia, Ethiopia and Malawi, with a focus on equipping participants, including women, rural youths and persons with disabilities, with competencies in leadership, innovation and community development.

In a statement by PAU's project lead, Professor Kemi Ogunyemi, the initiative was described as going beyond knowledge sharing to foster a new way of thinking about global challenges.

"The SYNAPSE project goes beyond conversation. It equips young people and educators with the mindset and tools to think differently, applying systems thinking to address complex global issues," the statement read.

The project is coordinated by IUL, Università Telematica degli Studi, in collaboration with Apodissi, Mundus, Science Horizons Kenya, Blue Sapphire Hub Foundation, National Youth Climate Action Network Association, Centre for Humanity and Sustainable Development, Ethiopian Catholic Church Salesians of Don Bosco, System Dynamics Italian Chapter, The Technical University of Kenya, Pan Atlantic University and Universidad de Almería.

Participants will engage through virtual exchange platforms designed to enable intercultural dialogue and cross border collaboration on issues including climate change, inequality and digital transformation. The project will also promote systems thinking, a holistic approach to understanding complex challenges by examining interconnections between different factors and identifying sustainable solutions.

Universities involved will work alongside small and medium scale enterprises and youth organisations to deepen grassroots engagement. A key upcoming milestone is the recruitment of youth facilitators, who will play an active role in shaping cross cultural dialogue among participating countries.

"With an expected reach of 2,500 young people, SYNAPSE is set to build a network of globally connected, systems minded changemakers," the statement added. Â