Tunis, Tunisia, 12th – 13th December, 2013
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The Tunisian capital hosted the 3nd “International Platform on Integrating Arab e-infrastructure in a Global Environment, e-AGE 2013”, 12-13 December 2013 under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Moncef Ben Salem, Tunisian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and headed by His Excellency Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman of the Arab States Research and Education Network (ASREN).
The theme of e-AGE 2013 focused on Connectivity, Access and Innovation. Participants in e-AGE 2013 included more than 200 delegates representing more than 30 countries and representatives of the League of Arab States, World Bank, European Commission and other international agencies, decision makers, academics, network professionals, researchers, scientists, government officials, enterprises and NGOs.
The meetings aim at emphasizing on the necessity of establishing education and research networks in the Arab world as well as enhancing cooperation opportunities between the current networks in order to link researchers and academies on one hand, and to provide them with services on the other.
In his speech, the Minister said:" This meeting is of a great importance through its uniqueness at the level of the Arab region and in the world in terms of the entities that are involved in. It is a unique opportunity for researchers Arabs and those in charge of the development of scientific infrastructure in the Arab world to take advantage of this gathering of academics, professionals, specialists and experts in these areas."
Meanwhile, HE Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh said “The Forum gathered experts, decision-makers and scholars from Arab countries, Europe and the United States, Africa and Latin America, Canada and Asia, which confirms the seriousness and attention to the development of a network of education and research in the Arab region. It is necessary and important to build on these successes and the adoption of the necessary steps towards the development of infrastructure and link the Arab efforts in the field of scientific research and education with all over the world."
HE Ambassador Faeqa Al Saleh said That the League's participation in the forum and the conference comes in the context of strengthening partnership and networking with non-governmental organizations, including "ASREN and AROQA," which have continued over the past five years in raising the issues consistent with the mobility of education about search for tools that will promote scientific research and improve the quality of education, and efforts in the field of the use of information and communication technology in the educational process and access to support the overall development process." It was concluded to continue on concrete basis:
- To accelerate the integration of Arab e-infrastructure and connecting them with the European, the US, the Latin American, and the African research and education Networks through three main exchange points in London, Fujaira, and Alexandria.
- To continue to support the development of research and education infrastructure in Lebanon, Bahrian, and Iraq.
- To continue to support peering of emerging networks in Qatar and Oman.
- To continue to support and initiate concrete discussions with Yemen and Libya towards taking concrete steps in developing their national e-Infrastructures
- To emphasize the importance to extend effective participation of ASREN, integrate Arab unified e-infrastructure and promote the role of research and education communities in the Arab world.
