17.4.3 – Does your university as body have dedicated outreach educational activities for the wider community, which could include alumni, local residents, displaced people?

SDG 17.4.3: Dedicated Outreach Educational Activities for the Wider Community

The University of El Oued demonstrates a robust commitment to educating and building capacity within its wider community, actively extending specialized knowledge and training to local residents, youth, and business professionals. This outreach ensures that the University acts as a critical knowledge broker for regional sustainable development.

1. Targeting Local Farmers and Regional Residents: The TIMSA’24 Forum

The University conducted a major, high-impact educational outreach by hosting the International Forum on Technology and Innovation for Modernizing Desert Agriculture (TIMSA’24) on November 20–21, 2024. This event, inaugurated by the Governor of El Oued Province, brought together researchers, experts, and, crucially, local farmers and agricultural investors. The forum’s sessions were designed for knowledge transfer on sustainable solutions, including lectures on solar-powered irrigation methods and water management. Furthermore, parallel to the main scientific sessions, the University organized three dedicated training workshops specifically for farmers and agricultural investors on specialized topics (such as beekeeping and aquaculture). This structured effort ensures that the local agricultural community receives the necessary technical education to implement sustainable practices (SDGs 2, 6, 7).

2. Targeting Community Youth and Future Professionals: Souf Youth Forum

The University demonstrated its commitment to off-campus educational outreach by actively participating in the Souf Youth Forum, organized by the Supreme Council for Youth. The University’s delegation, which included the Director, Deans, and professors, provided training workshops directly to non-student youth.

The educational axes covered crucial future skills, including programming, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and empowerment in desert agriculture. By delivering this specialized, skills-focused training directly to the local youth in an off-campus setting, the University builds capacity in innovation and entrepreneurship, supporting future employment and regional economic growth (SDG 8, 9).

3. Targeting Entrepreneurs and Business Professionals: Training the Trainers

The University strengthens the regional business ecosystem through structured vocational training aimed at professionals and local entrepreneurs. On February 6, 2024, the University launched a Training of Trainers (TOT) course for Entrepreneurship Development Center coaches, organized in coordination with the National Agency for Entrepreneurship Support (NESDA).

This course prepares certified trainers to guide university students, entrepreneurs, and project holders through the practical and legal steps of realizing their ventures. By training these coaches, the University creates a sustainable network of experts who will, in turn, disseminate specialized knowledge and best practices to the wider community of business founders and innovators, significantly supporting job creation and sustainable economic development (SDG 8).