A memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation in the field of higher education was signed between the Council of Higher Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

Prior to the signing ceremony held at Yıldız Technical University, Erol Özvar, President of the Council of Higher Education, met with Prof. Yacoub Ould Moine, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, and his delegation. 

During the meeting, Minister Moine stated, “Back in our student days, it used to be fashionable to study in France. But things have changed now. Receiving an education in Turkey is now highly valuable.” 

Pointing out that this presents an opportunity, Minister Moine requested the establishment of a Turkish university in Mauritania. Minister Moine noted that such a university would be in demand not only in Mauritania but also in neighboring countries. 

Erol Özvar, Chairman of the Council of Higher Education, remarked, “We may seek an agreement to launch certain programs from Turkey’s distinguished universities in Mauritania.” 

In his speech at the signing ceremony, Özvar expressed his satisfaction with the strategic proposal to either open a Turkish university in Mauritania or, as this process matures, to establish a Turkish faculty within the University of Nouakchott, stating, “Your constructive commitment to allocating land or a building on the University of Nouakchott campus, along with the strong interest shown by the people of Mauritania in learning Turkish, has pleased us greatly. We are ready to evaluate this visionary proposal from the perspective of long-term and strategic cooperation.”

“A strategic roadmap to bring concrete, dynamic, and modern collaborations to life”

Özvar noted that the memorandum of understanding would usher in a new era in relations between the two countries, stating, “We view this memorandum of understanding not merely as a legal document, but as a strategic roadmap that will bring concrete, dynamic, and modern collaborations between our universities to life.”

Noting that they had agreed to increase student and faculty mobility and develop joint undergraduate and graduate programs, Özvar emphasized that they attach particular importance to cooperation in the field of digital higher education and will work together on this issue. Özvar said, “We will share the experiences of Turkish higher education in the field of digitalization with our Mauritanian friends.” 

-Legal Framework for Cooperation Established

The signed memorandum of understanding aims to establish a legal framework for developing direct cooperation between higher education institutions in both countries and for subsidiary agreements to be concluded within this scope.

Under the agreement, joint efforts will also be undertaken to establish shared distance learning platforms and virtual classrooms, share e-learning technologies, and modernize university services in Mauritania through digitalization.

Other areas of cooperation outlined in the memorandum of understanding include increasing student and researcher mobility between the two countries through annual scholarship quotas, organizing joint cultural events at universities, and developing a Turkish language curriculum for scientific and technical purposes in Mauritania.