Minister of Higher Education Discusses Support for Rebuilding Sudan’s Higher Education Institutions with UNESCO

Khartoum /
Professor Ahmed Mudawi Mousa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, met with Ahmed Junaid Soroush, Head of the UNESCO Office in Sudan, to discuss ways to strengthen joint cooperation in supporting the higher education sector and rehabilitating its institutions in the aftermath of the war. The meeting was attended by the Ministry’s Undersecretary, Ali Al-Sheikh Al-Samani.

The Minister affirmed that the Ministry has conducted a comprehensive study and assessment of the infrastructure of higher education and scientific research institutions across the country. He pointed to the extensive damage suffered by academic institutions due to the war, stressing the importance of stabilizing and sustaining the educational process.
He also called for expanding opportunities for international scholarships and training programs, particularly in postgraduate studies and vital specializations, to support academic staff and enhance the capacities of higher education institutions.
Regarding the heritage sector, the Minister noted that Sudan possesses distinguished expertise in archaeology within its universities. He added that the Sudan National Museum has lost hundreds of thousands of artifacts due to systematic looting and their transfer (outside the country).

For his part, the Head of the UNESCO Office in Sudan reviewed the transitional education plan, affirming the organization’s close monitoring of developments in Sudan and its commitment to providing support through the most effective means possible.
He highlighted the importance of cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education in areas such as reconstruction, capacity building, and the establishment of peace studies centers in conflict-affected regions, as well as specialized centers for heritage protection and the use of modern technologies in its preservation.

Soroush also expressed UNESCO’s readiness to benefit from the infrastructure assessment conducted by the Ministry, explaining that the main objective is to help higher education institutions and researchers overcome the impacts of conflict through sustainable, long-term solutions.