Damascus, July 14 (SANA)Syrian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Marwan al-Halabi, met with Moroccan Chargé d’Affaires in Syria Abdellah Babah on Tuesday to discuss expanding academic cooperation between the two countries, including increasing scholarship opportunities and advancing a new memorandum of understanding between their higher education ministries.

During the meeting at the ministry’s headquarters in Damascus, the two sides reaffirmed the strength of Syrian-Moroccan relations and discussed a draft memorandum of understanding covering academic cooperation. They agreed to continue coordination to finalize and adopt the agreement in the near future.

Al-Halabi said the latest educational agreement between the two countries dates back to 2004 and includes 20 scholarships. He noted that both sides are working to increase the number to 100 scholarships, shared equally, while expanding cooperation to include faculty exchanges, short-term academic programs, curriculum development, quality assurance, accreditation and education quality management.

Babah said bilateral relations have seen notable progress in recent months, adding that Morocco’s Ministry of Higher Education has submitted a draft cooperation memorandum for review by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates before its adoption.He added the proposal covers applied scientific research, technical education, advanced technology, vocational training, student exchanges and scholarship programs, and reaffirmed Morocco’s commitment to welcoming more Arab students, particularly Syrians, to its universities.F.J./M.Z.