The Syrian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the Transitional Government, Marwan al-Halabi, and the Chairman of the Higher Education Council in Türkiye, Erol Özvar, have signed a joint agreement aimed at strengthening scientific research and advancing the higher education sector in Syria.
According to Syria’s state-run news agency SANA, the agreement outlines cooperation on a range of initiatives, including a shared vision for the future of scientific research, the introduction of artificial intelligence into Syrian universities, and the exchange of academic programs and expertise between the two countries.
A key component of the agreement is the mutual recognition of universities and academic qualifications in Syria and Türkiye. This includes formal recognition of academic certificates and documents issued by Turkish universities for Syrian students who completed their studies in Türkiye and returned home.
SANA also reported that both countries will collaborate to launch dual degree programs at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels. In addition, Syria and Türkiye plan to establish an online service to verify academic documents and streamline the transfer process for Syrian students enrolled in Turkish universities who wish to continue their studies in Syria.
Türkiye will support the development of digital infrastructure in Syrian universities by helping to establish a modern system aimed at improving administrative and academic performance. The two sides will also form a joint working committee to plan for the teaching of Turkish as a second language in institutions under Syria’s Ministry of Higher Education.
The agreement further includes the launch of a “Sister Universities” (Twinning) project to connect institutions in both countries, the organisation of an annual university forum alternating between Syria and Türkiye, and the employment of Syrian doctoral graduates from Turkish universities as faculty members in Syrian institutions.
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On Sunday, Minister al-Halabi announced that the Ministry of Higher Education had decided to cancel the national examination as a requirement for graduation in Syria. The exam will now only apply to graduate students, he said, according to a report from Syria TV.
He added that the ministry is working to transform the open education system into an integrated education model and is facilitating the transfer of Syrian students studying abroad back into domestic universities.
The transitional government, he said, will introduce broad measures to support students without compromising the integrity of the educational process.
As part of these reforms, the government also plans to standardise the status of public and private universities across the country, including merging Aleppo University with the University of Idlib. Al-Halabi noted that the ministry is currently reviewing university admissions policies and differentiation systems and will provide assistance for students returning from studies abroad.
He also emphasised that the Quality and Assurance Authority under the Ministry of Higher Education will monitor the academic standards of curricula in both public and private universities. The government also intends to unify high school diploma curricula to ensure equal opportunity and implement consistent evaluation standards.
