Sheikh Dr. Ammar Bin Nasser Al Mualla, Education & Technology Sciences Attaché of the UAE in Egypt and Non-resident Attaché of Morocco and Tunisia, reviewed a number of issues related to the Ministry of Education’s vision on the mechanisms and projects of the Education & Technology Sciences Attaché offices, and the establishment of educational coordinating offices in several countries, in line with the aspirations of the State leadership, during his meeting with H.E. Al Asri Saeed Al Dhaheri, Ambassador of the UAE to the Kingdom of Morocco.
Joint cooperation protocols, the draft memorandum of understanding on student exchange, and the operational program of cooperation in higher education and scientific research were also reviewed with Morocco’s Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, in presence of Dr. Samira AlMulla, Director of Certificate Equivalency Department at the Ministry of Education, Mr. Issa Al Balushi, Head of the Support Services Department, and Professor Iman Ali Al Hosani, Technical Attaché at the UAE Embassy in Egypt.
At the same level, Sheikh Dr Ammar Bin Nasser Al Mualla, together with H.E. Rashid Mohamed Al-Mansouri, UAE Ambassador to Tunisia, discussed developing working methodologies for the Education & Technology Sciences Attaché offices and their coordinating offices in Arab States. Common themes in the field of education were also discussed with Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), in addition to learning about the projects of the Organization, the Technical Department’s main activities and its external centers, as well as the activities implemented with the United Arab Emirates National Commission for Education, Culture and Science.
Arab University Ranking
The meeting with Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar addressed projects undertaken and pursued by the organization, such as the “Arab University Ranking” project, the establishment of a joint Arab Certificate Protection System, the Arab Translation Week, the employment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, and the strengthening of Arab capacities in this field, along with the Arab Mathematical Olympiad, the ALECSO Olympiad for Arab Children’s Research Methodologies Capacity Enhancement, and specialized ministerial conferences.
The Director-General of ALECSO thanked the UAE for hosting the Conference of Ministers Responsible for Cultural Affairs in the Arab World in December 2021.
The UAE Education System
The discussions held by Sheikh Dr. Al Mualla with H.E. Moncef Boukthir, Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Republic of Tunisia, led the topics of common interest and the strengthening of relations between the UAE and Tunisia in the field of education and the development of educational coordinating offices.
The experience of the UAE in AI, and Tunisian universities and disciplines have been reviewed in accordance with international standards, and the UAE Public and University education system. It has also been agreed to prepare memorandums of understanding with State universities in this regard, twinning universities in both countries, studying opening areas of collaboration in the coming phase, as well the transfer of knowledge, the exchange of practices and the preparation of agreements.
Fine Arts Education
Together with His Excellency Dr. Fathi Salaouti, Minister of Education of Tunisia, Sheikh Dr. Al Mualla discussed the experiences gained by Tunisia from the UAE in advanced technologies, technical cooperation in Fine Arts Education, and the exchange of knowledge between the two countries in order to keep pace with digital transformation and modern technology.
In the same context, Sheikh Dr. Al Mualla also met H.E Mohamed A-Shamsi, Head of Mission to Libya, during his visit to Tunisia, where they discussed the importance of developing joint projects between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on one hand and educational coordinating offices on the other, concerted efforts in order to realize the vision of the United Arab Emirates, and strengthening relations between institutions of higher education and research centers in accordance with the established global standards. It was also recommended that the scope of partnership and action should be expanded.
Higher Education Operational Program
During his meeting with H.E. Ambassador Mohamed Methqal, Ambassador Director General of the Morocco Agency for International Cooperation, Shiekh Dr. Ammar Al Mualla discussed what has been done regarding the procedures for signing the cooperation protocol between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education of the Kingdom of Morocco, the draft memorandum of understanding on student exchange, and the draft operational program for cooperation in higher education and scientific research with the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation of Morocco, in presence of Mr. Issa Al Balushi, member of the diplomatic mission, and members of the Ministry of Education.
During the second meeting in Morocco with Mr. Mohamed Khalfaoui, Secretary General of the Sector of Higher Education and Scientific Research at the Ministry of National Education, Sheikh Dr. Al Mualla briefed on certificate equivalency practices and joint development mechanisms, the invitation to the Ministry of Education to participate in Africa-wide events, and the proposal to establish an Emirati-Moroccan Council to exchange experiences in various scientific, professional, and humanities fields, and to promote publication of scientific papers.
UAE Students at Moroccan Universities
Also During his visit to Morocco, Sheikh Dr. Al Mualla held virtual meetings with Mohammed V University, Hassan II University of Casablanca, and Cadi Ayyad University, where academic disciplines, joint cooperation and scientific research were reviewed. He also visited the National Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST) and learned about its objectives in supporting researchers, university students, and scientific and theoretical research specialists, by establishing specialized centers serving all universities and students. He also paid a field visit to the Center’s public library, and the historic site "Chellah."
On the margins of his visit to Morocco, Sheikh Dr. Al Mualla met with Emirati students studying at Moroccan universities, who were briefed on the strategies of the Ministry of Education, and its vision on the development of Education & Technology Sciences Attaché offices and coordinating offices, and their educational dimensions, alongside a review of the proposals put forward by the students.
31/03/2022
