Higher education and scientific research in focus [Archives:2005/900/Local News]
SANA'A, Dec.3 ) Under the slogan of “Distinction and Creativity in the Higher Education, the tenth round of the conference of higher education and scientific research officials in the Arab world is being held in the Yemeni Capital, Sana'a, in cooperation with the Arab Organization for Education, Culture and Science.
Yemeni Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Dr. Abdulwahab Raweh have chaired the conference during the first sessions and have confirmed that the institutions of higher education and scientific research need to be reformed so that its outputs can fulfill the demands of development and labor market.
Dr. Mailoud Habibi, Manager of the education unit at the Arab Organization for Education, Culture and Science ascertained in his speech that the conference will be a station for allowing creative initiatives to develop the higher education in the region.
For his part, Dr. Mohamed Bin Mohamed Mutaher, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and head of the Yemeni delegation in the conference told the Yemen Times that “the strategy of higher education concentrates on matters related to distinction and creativity in higher education institutions and how they can be achieved in the areas of education or in the scientific education.
Concerning the reality of higher education and scientific research in the Arab world, he said that it is still limited and the contributions of the Arab world to the global body of knowledge in the areas of research and development are still limited. He attributed such shortcomings to the weak policies of scientific research and the limited spending on the scientific research.
The weak relationship between universities and scientific research institutions, as well as the weak relationship between universities and the productive and service sectors in the Arab community is responsible for the deteriorating status of the scientific research, he added.
Prof. Ali Ismail, Rector of Dhi Qaz University in Iraq affirmed the conference is of great importance as it focuses on the scientific research and on how to confront the world challenges faced by universities in the Arab region.
He said the postgraduate studies in the Arab world lack the modern techniques and resources, as well as the advanced means of communication with their counterparts in the developed world
Prof. Ismail has also mentioned that ministries of higher education have to specify the courses of scientific research in every Arab country and to assign the priorities in this matter.
The conference will continue its sessions discussing a number of areas related to the development of scientific research, in the presence of a large number of representatives from scientific research institutions in the Arab world are partaking in the conference.
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