17.2.1 – Does your university have direct involvement in, or input into, national government or regional nongovernment organisations SDG policy development – including identifying problems and challenges, developing policies and strategies, modelling likely futures with and without interventions, monitoring and reporting on interventions, and enabling adaptive management?

The University of El Oued actively serves as a strategic partner to both regional governmental bodies and national public agencies, ensuring that academic expertise and research findings are integrated into local development plans and national policy strategies. This direct involvement goes beyond consultation; the University provides essential data, identifies systemic challenges, and co-designs solutions for the province. The evidence below demonstrates two crucial avenues of policy influence: (1) Direct Input to Regional Government through participation in legislative planning sessions, and (2) Collaborative Policy Execution through establishing joint committees with key national employment agencies. This strategic engagement ensures that the Sustainable Development Goals are translated into actionable, locally relevant policies.

The Director of The University of El Oued Participates in the Proceedings of the Fourth Ordinary Session of the Provincial People’s Assembly for 2024

On Tuesday, December 17, 2024, the Director of The University of El Oued, Professor Omar Ferhati, participated in the proceedings of the Fourth Ordinary Session of the Provincial People’s Assembly for 2024. The session was held at the Assembly headquarters under the supervision of the President of the Assembly, Mr. Hassani Azzedine, and was attended by the Governor, Mr. Bahloul Larbi, members of the security committee, the Secretary-General of the Province, executive directors, mayors, and civil society actors.

 

University Input to Regional Policy

The University Director presented a detailed report on the University City to the Provincial People’s Assembly, covering the University’s integrated structure, including:

  • The University (main campus).

  • The Higher School of Desert Agriculture.

  • The Continuing Education University.

  • The Intensive Language Teaching Sector.

  • The University Services Sector.

This presentation served as direct input into regional policy development by providing the Assembly with:

  1. Statistics and Achieved Results (Monitoring and reporting on interventions).

  2. Total Structural and Research Needs (Identifying challenges and informing infrastructure policy).

  3. Key Concerns of the University City (Identifying problems and challenges that require governmental and regional support).

This participation confirms the University’s active partnership with regional governance to ensure that education, research, and infrastructure needs are integrated into provincial development strategies.

 

The University of El Oued Hosts an Awareness Day on the 2024 Finance Law

The University of El Oued hosted a crucial information day on the 2024 Finance Law on Tuesday, January 30, 2024. This significant event was organized by the Souf Provincial Chamber of Commerce and Industry and aimed to increase financial literacy and facilitate the understanding of new national fiscal policy across the region.

The event commenced with the official opening segment. The University Director, Professor Omar Ferhati, delivered a welcome address, praising the initiative as beneficial to various sectors within the province and expressed his willingness to host more such collaborative events. Following him, the Secretary-General of the Chamber welcomed the attendees and explained the specific objectives of the information day. Subsequently, the President of the Chamber spoke, expressing gratitude and wishing the attendees success in benefiting from the important study day. Finally, the Inspector General of the Province, speaking on behalf of the Governor, officially opened the event, acknowledging the value of such cooperative meetings.

Following the opening remarks, the focus shifted to the technical and scientific analysis of the new law in a dedicated session. Dr. Saleh Hamidatou from the University’s Faculty of Economic Sciences chaired this session, providing essential academic leadership. The session featured presentations by officials directly responsible for implementing the law, including Mr. Najieb Tahlia, a Department Inspector from the Directorate of State Assets, and Mr. Mohamed Youssef Boudhbia, a Chief Inspector from the Customs Inspectorate. The content focused on analyzing the details and implications of the 2024 Finance Law. The activity concluded with a tribute and honoring of the University Director and the lecturers and presenters who contributed their expertise to the day’s proceedings.

This collaboration confirmed the University’s role in facilitating policy dialogue and knowledge transfer, linking academic expertise with government regulatory bodies and regional business organizations.

 

 

International Forum on Technology and Innovation for Modernizing Desert Agriculture (TIMSA’24)

The proceedings of the International Forum on Technology and Innovation for Modernizing Desert Agriculture (TIMSA’24), organized by the Higher School of Desert Agriculture at El Oued, were launched on November 20, 2024, and continued through November 21, 2024, at the Golden Gazelle complex. The launch was overseen by the Governor of El Oued Province, Al-Arabi Bahloul, and featured a prominent attendance that included the Deputy President of the Provincial Council, the Director of The University of El Oued, Professor Omar Ferhati, the Director of the Higher School of Desert Agriculture, Professor Kadda Al-Habib, the former Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Rashid Ben Aissa, the directors of several specialized universities and institutes, the University City staff, researchers, students, farmers, and key economic partners.

Following the opening formalities and the National Anthem, the Forum President, Professor Sufian Sekkai, delivered an introductory speech outlining the forum’s objectives, its main axes, and the deep challenges facing global food security. Professor Kadda Al-Habib, Director of the Higher School of Desert Agriculture, followed with a welcome address, emphasizing the importance of scientific forums for developing desert agriculture and highlighting the necessity of modernizing farming in arid areas. The Director of The University of El Oued, Professor Omar Ferhati, then addressed the attendees, welcoming the Governor and praising his support for scientific research as the engine of development. Professor Ferhati reiterated the strategy of the President of the Republic to achieve self-sufficiency in grain production, noting that the University serves as a partner through research and innovation to solve agricultural problems and achieve sustainable development.

In his keynote address to inaugurate TIMSA’24, Governor Al-Arabi Bahloul welcomed the attendees, participants, and the scientific and research committees, stressing the vital importance of the agricultural sector and the President’s directives toward achieving food security and sustainable development while creating permanent jobs. The Governor emphasized the need to link academic research with practical field work and urged the residents and farmers of the Province to continue increasing production in partnership with all institutions to safeguard national food security, subsequently declaring the official launch of the forum’s activities.

The scientific sessions then began with a lecture by Professor Muhammad Khalifa on solar-powered irrigation methods and integrated farms

 followed by a lecture by Professor Boualam Rmini focusing on the importance of oases and newly developed cultivation techniques. Parallel to the academic activities, the Forum facilitated the signing of partnership and cooperation agreements between the Higher School of Desert Agriculture and various institutes and institutions, witnessed by the Governor, the Deputy President of the Provincial Council, and the Director of The University of El Oued.

The Forum dedicated its two days to exploring various issues and challenges of desert agriculture and discovering sustainable solutions that enhance agricultural development, provide food, and minimize environmental risks, emphasizing the importance of technology and innovation. The global scientific event covered five main axes: 1. Soil and Water Management. 2. Innovation in Animal Science and Aquaculture. 3. Botanical Approaches. 4. Political, Social, and Economic Dimensions of Sustainable Agriculture. 5. Biotechnology Innovations in the Food Agriculture field. To encourage young researchers, especially doctoral students, an agreement was made with two high-level, classified scientific journals to publish the best research presented. In parallel with the main forum, three training workshops were organized for farmers and agricultural investors, focusing on specialized topics: horse breeding, beekeeping, and aquaculture.

 

Preparatory Meeting for Establishing the Job Search Clubs Committee (CRE)

In line with the efforts of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and under the supervision of the Director of The University of El Oued, Professor Omar Ferhati, a preparatory meeting was held on March 3, 2024.

The meeting was chaired by the Vice-Director of the University for External Relations, Dr. Mohamed Fouad Ferhat, alongside the University’s Secretary-General, Dr. Shawki Meddell. Also present were the Head of the Entrepreneurship Development Center and the Sub-Director for Activities. The meeting took place in the central administration meeting room and involved key officials from the National Employment Agency (ANEM).

The Vice-Director opened the session by welcoming the attendees and highlighting the significance of the meeting, which was dedicated to establishing the Job Search Committee (CRE). He emphasized the importance of supporting university graduates by bringing public employment services closer to training facilities through the establishment of Job Search Clubs (CRE) within the University itself.

The University’s Secretary-General then provided detailed explanations regarding the requirements for establishing this joint committee between the National Employment Agency and the University. The committee’s primary goal is to mentor and guide students in their job search processes (CRE) and to cultivate a culture of independence in the job search process among the student body. The attendees subsequently discussed the practical steps involved in creating and organizing the “Job Search Clubs” committee.

This activity demonstrates a direct collaborative effort (SDG 17) between the University and a key national agency (ANEM) to enhance student employability and facilitate their transition to the labor market.