The Syrian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research signed a memorandum of understanding with the Turkish Council of Higher Education (YÖK) on Wednesday at Gaziantep University's presidency headquarters to enhance cooperation in higher education and scientific research, and to solidify arrangements regarding the future of educational institutions operating in northern Syria.
The memorandum was signed on the Syrian side by Minister Marwan Al-Halabi, and on the Turkish side by Council Chairman Dr. Irol Ozfar, in the presence of officials and academics from both sides, as part of completing discussions the ministry has been working on to transfer branches of Gaziantep University and the Health Sciences University in northern Syria.
Arrangements for Educational Institutions
According to the memorandum's terms, it was agreed to continue the educational activities of the Faculty of Education in Afrin, the Faculty of Islamic Sciences in Azaz, the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences in Al-Bab, and the Jarabulus Vocational Institutes, all affiliated with Gaziantep University, within the framework of the University of Aleppo.
Students at the Faculty of Medicine and the School of Health Services Vocational in Al-Rai, affiliated with the Turkish Health Sciences University, will continue their studies at the same Syrian higher education institutions or at equivalent ones, ensuring the continuity of their academic paths.
Rights of Students and Academic Staff
The memorandum emphasized that the rights of students and graduates are a fundamental priority, with the completion of legal regulations for degree equivalence and an agreement to continue programs for training primary school and mathematics teachers in Afrin, as well as the eleven educational programs in Jarabulus.
Regarding academic and administrative staff, it was agreed to continue their work within the legal frameworks and prevailing regulations in Syria, in line with the Ministry of Higher Education's legislation and to preserve the stability of the educational process.
Joint University Project
Both sides discussed future cooperation prospects, including working on the project to establish the Syrian-Turkish International University in Damascus as a joint academic project, and moving towards forming a Turkish working group to visit Damascus to complete the terms of the establishment agreement.
For his part, Ozfar expressed the Council's readiness to continue cooperation in enhancing the Syrian higher education system and benefiting from Turkish academic expertise, particularly in meeting universities' needs for teaching staff.
Minister Al-Halabi emphasized that this step represents a transition from supporting circumstances to building a future partnership, and constructing a better future for the peoples of the two neighboring countries, praising the role these universities played during the years of the revolution in preserving the academic path.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
Comments (0)