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Syria’s re-entry into the University Agency of the Francophonie (AUF) after a 15-year hiatus marks a pivotal moment in international academic cooperation, according to Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Marwan al-Halabi. In an interview with SANA, al-Halabi confirmed that the AUF will soon reopen its office in Syria, signaling the country’s renewed engagement with global higher education networks. This move, he emphasized, not only strengthens Syria’s regional and global standing in academia but also opens new avenues for Syrian universities to collaborate with institutions across the Francophone world and beyond. The goal, he said, is to foster partnerships rooted in mutual respect, shared knowledge, and joint research initiatives. He also pointed to the recent 5th Conference of Ministers of Higher Education of the AUF, held in Dakar, Senegal, which addressed the ongoing global challenges in education and science. The conference called for united intellectual and humanitarian efforts to rebuild education’s role in peace-building and development. Founded in 1961 in Montreal, the AUF is a global network of universities and research centers that use French as a primary or secondary language of instruction. The organization seeks to promote academic cooperation, scientific research, and knowledge exchange among its member institutions worldwide.
