The European Commission (EC), on Friday, granted €60 million ($64 million) to finance the Support programme for Education, Mobility, Research and Innovation (EMORI) in Tunisia.
The donation agreement was signed by Minister of Development, Investment and International Co-operation, Mohamed Fadhel Abdelkefi, in the presence of European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, Carlos Moedas and Ministers of Education, and Higher Education and Scientific Research, Neji Jalloul and Slim Khalbous, respectively.
This programme is part of the Single Support Framework 2014-2016, between Tunisia and the EU.
It aims to support the Tunisian strategy of sustainable development through the improvement of the quality of the education system, encouraging the opening of scientific research centres onto the economic environment and improving the employability of researchers.
The programme focuses on the development of governance in the education sector, modernisation of basic infrastructure standards of educational institutions, promotion of preparatory education programmes, strengthening of the skills of those in charge of reform, As well as the educational framework through the system of continuing education, besides contributing to developing a comprehensive strategy for the generalisation of the digital school and the prevention of school failure.
With regard to scientific research, the programme aims to enable research centres to make better use of the European framework programme for research and innovation "horizon 2020", to support innovation in the private sector, through strengthening links between universities and research centres and establishing a national quality assessment agency, in addition to improving the employability of students.
Abdelkefi said the reform of education, research and innovation systems is one of the main reforms the government intends to carry out given its positive impact on the development of the country’s human resources which constitute the engine of development and the source of wealth creation.
The Minister also praised the level of cooperation with the various EU institutions and expressed his concern to develop and diversify it further.
Source: http://www.albawaba.com/business/tunisia-receives-64m-grant-european-commission-958228