The Secretary-General of the Association of Arab Universities Discusses Cooperation with the Libyan Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research

H.E. Prof. Amr Ezzat Salama, Secretary-General of the Association of Arab Universities, held a virtual meeting with H.E. Prof. Mohammed Ahmed Al-Dabeeb, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Libya.

The meeting was attended on the Libyan side by Prof. Ali Ahmed Salem, Advisor to the Minister, and Prof. Abdul Basit Mohammed Karima, Director of the International Cooperation Office at the Ministry. From the Association’s side, the meeting was attended by Prof. Anas Ratib Al-Soud, Executive Director, and Mr. Ziad Amara, Director of the Secretary-General’s Office.

Both sides discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the Association of Arab Universities and the Libyan Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, emphasizing the importance of supporting joint Arab action in the field of higher education and further developing coordination mechanisms among Arab academic institutions.

The meeting explored prospects for a joint cooperation programme aimed at improving the quality of higher education and strengthening the exchange of expertise and experiences between Arab and Libyan universities. Both parties also emphasized the importance of expanding the participation of Libyan universities in the Association’s activities and affiliated bodies, and of strengthening cooperation with their Arab counterparts through faculty exchange programmes, expanded academic scholarships, and the provision of doctoral research chairs, thereby enhancing the academic presence of Libyan universities within the Arab higher education system.

The discussions further highlighted the importance of activating the role of Libyan research centers and integrating them into joint Arab research networks, as well as supporting and developing peer-reviewed Arab academic journals and broadening their utilization, contributing to improved scientific publishing quality and stronger research integration among Arab academic institutions.

Both sides agreed to establish a joint committee to follow up on the implementation of the cooperation programme and to develop clear operational mechanisms ensuring the achievement of agreed objectives within a defined timeframe.

In conclusion, both parties expressed their appreciation for the level of existing cooperation and their commitment to further developing it in a way that serves higher education institutions across Arab countries.