April 5, 2009 -- Tunisian and Algerian universities have signed 19 agreements for closer scientific cooperation, exchanges of expertise, and joint education programmes and research projects with the aim of bringing the higher education systems of the two countries closer, reported La Presse of Tunisia.

The agreements were signed at a conference in Tozeur, Tunisia, at the end of March, where academics and researchers stressed the importance of further regular meetings and promoting mobility of university lecturers between the two countries to encourage development of higher education and prepare to face future challenges, said La Presse.

The conference gave participants from Algeria and Tunisia, including university presidents, the opportunity to learn about the two countries' systems of university education, research and technology, and to debate scientific matters of common interest. The programme also presented 51 research projects in workshops on water, energy and communication technologies.

Closing the conference, Tunisian Minister for Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technology Lazhar Bououni referred to the existing bilateral cooperation between Tunisia and Algeria such as student exchanges and 16 agreements for collaboration between the two countries' universities and sharing educational experiences.

Bououni said it was natural that such meetings should encourage twinning agreements and creation of joint diplomas, and ensure coordination on "LMD" [licence-master-doctorat], the Bologna degree structure of three, five and eight years' higher studies. He called for greater collaboration between the countries, and especially for theLMD system to constitute a new experience adapted to improving the quality of university education in both.