Algeria-Universities Programme

Definition of the Programme

The Algeria-Universities Programme- PAU is a development cooperative programme aimed at creating a framework of university networks: the Vives University Network (XVU) and the Western Universities Regional Conference (CRUO) of Algeria.

The main objective of the programme is the integration and recognition of the higher education system of Algeria throughout the Mediterranean and its reinforcement as a good referent in higher education. Its specific objective is to create an area in which to setup the action, guidelines and relationships among the 20 universities of the Vives University Network and the 15 of the CRUO.

Western Universities Regional Conference

The Algerian higher education system comprises three university regional conferences: eastern, southern and western sector, with which the Vives University Network has established the development cooperation programme known as Algeria-Universities Programme. These three networks belong to the National Conference of Algerian Universities.

The Western Universities Regional Conference (CRUO) of Algeria is a government body answerable to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Algeria. Its main responsibilities are to establish criteria and recommendations for the following tasks: the development of higher education and scientific and technical information regional network; the regulation of secondary school holders; scientific research; regional interuniversity cooperation; provision of mobility for researches and professors; provision of evaluation system and finally progress of higher education studies and regulatory texts on pedagogy, science or administration.

PAU in figures

The PAU has 35 cooperating higher education institutions and 4 states included: Spain, Algeria, Andorra and France; more than 40 actions of teaching, research and awareness have been defined; more than 50 investigators and professors involved and it is projected that more the 400 students and administration staff will benefit.

Justification

Algeria, the Maghreb and the Mediterranean basin is an area of strategic importance to the universities of the Network and Europe. For this reason, the Vives University Network is currently working towards the construction of a relational framework among the universities within the area.

There are few bonds between the higher education entities of both countries. The choice for Algeria addresses the request of the 20 universities of the Vives University Network to strengthen ties with the Maghreb, taking into account geographical and historical proximity and that Algeria is the Maghrebi country with least level of volume of cooperation.

Taking into account the conflicts in the region, it is realised that the programme also represents an opportunity of contributing to build bridges over the Mediterranean cultures towards the construction of a culture of peace based in Human Rights. One of the main advantages of the process is to strengthen university structures at all levels in order to increase and retain the human capital within Algerian universities. Thus, these universities can become strategic agents to improve their governability, democracy and the human development of its social environment.

The integration and recognition of the Algerian higher education system in the Mediterranean basin is an essential factor in building alliances in Europe and help the project remove these universities and research centres towards a common European knowledge base.

Participating universities

Vives University Network - XVU: Regional Conference of Western Universities (CRUO) of Algeria: