Launch of the “Euro–Arab–Eurasian Higher Education Corridor” Initiative at EURIE 2026

Istanbul – 8 April 2026

Within the framework of its efforts to strengthen international academic cooperation and expand partnerships between Arab universities and their counterparts worldwide, H.E. Professor Amr Ezzat Salama, Secretary-General of the Association of Arab Universities, announced the launch of the “Euro–Arab–Eurasian Higher Education Corridor” initiative on 8 April 2026, on the sidelines of the Eurasia Higher Education Summit (EURIE) 2026, hosted in Istanbul.

The initiative was announced in partnership with Professor Mustafa Aydın, President of the Eurasian Universities Union (EURAS), in the presence of a number of university presidents, policymakers, and higher education experts from various countries around the world.

The initiative aims to establish a strategic multiregional cooperation framework connecting universities and higher education institutions across Europe, the Arab world, and Eurasia, thereby strengthening academic integration and transforming existing forms of cooperation—often limited to fragmented bilateral agreements—into more comprehensive and sustainable institutional partnerships.

In this context, the Secretary-General emphasized that the initiative reflects the commitment of the Association of Arab Universities to advancing education diplomacy and expanding opportunities for scientific and research collaboration between Arab universities and international academic institutions, in a manner that supports innovation and contributes to the development of human capital in the Arab region.

The initiative is built around several strategic pillars, most notably enhancing the mobility of students, researchers, and academic staff; developing joint research and innovation networks; strengthening institutional capacity within universities; and promoting cultural dialogue and inter civilizational understanding among regions.

It also includes the establishment of joint research networks in priority areas such as health and life sciences, smart cities and engineering, climate, energy and water, as well as social sciences, migration, and governance, in addition to supporting innovation and entrepreneurship programs and strengthening collaboration between universities and technology centers.

The initiative is expected to lead to the launch of pilot programs for academic mobility and joint research collaboration, the development of joint degree programs, and co-supervision of doctoral students, while further enhancing the presence and engagement of Arab universities within the broader landscape of international academic cooperation.

This initiative aligns with the vision of the Association of Arab Universities to promote scientific integration between Arab universities and their international partners, and to reinforce the role of higher education as a platform for international cooperation, sustainable development, and the strengthening of dialogue and mutual understanding among different regions of the world.