Damascus - Minister of Higher Education Ghiath Barakat discussed on Tuesday with Director of the French Research Institute for Development (IRD) in Egypt and the Middle East Abdul Ghani al-Shahboni ways of cooperation in establishing joint, scientific and development researches in higher education and scientific research sectors.
Both sides underscored the need of expanding cooperation to include Syrian universities and research centers and conducting researches in the areas of water, energy and environment.
Barakat called for setting a framework to cooperate with the French institution, so that all proposals would be submitted and studied by both sides.
Al-Shahboni referred to the possibility of cooperation with the Syrian side to establish joint research projects in rationalizing irrigation water because of the global warming.
The IRD is a French public research institute working for the development of Southern countries, reporting to the Ministries responsible for research and overseas development.
The agency is managing for more than sixty years research, consultancy and capacity building activities in Africa, the Mediterranean basin, Asia, Latin America and French overseas territories. Its researchers address major development challenges regarding environment, sustainable development of living resources, social studies and health.
Minister of Higher Education Briefs German Delegation on State of Education in Syria
Later, Minister Barakat briefed a delegation from the German Federal Academy for Politics on the process of education and the various educational institutes in Syria.
Barakat indicated to the cooperation agreement between his Ministry and several countries in order to improve the educational level of Syrian students, noting that there are around 900 Syrian students continuing their studies in Germany.
He also pointed out that the employment of Syrian university graduates is on the rise due to the increase of investments in the country.
By M. Nassr / al-Ibrahim / Zahra / H. Sabbagh / M. O.
© SANA (Syria Arab News Agency) 2010
