The “Knowledge Day” Committee of the University of El Oued holds its first meeting.
The “Knowledge Day” Committee of the University of El Oued convened for its inaugural meeting on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at the central meeting hall of the university’s administration.
Attendees:
- Dr. Khalifa Gaïd, Committee Chair
- Dr. Abdallah Reguig, Member
- Dr. Abdelkader Azzam Aouadi, Member
- Dr. Chouaïb Labiod, Member
- Dr. Raja Adaika, Member
The Committee Chair opened the meeting and welcomed the members to the committee’s first gathering. He emphasized the importance that Professor Omar Ferhati, the university’s rector, attaches to Knowledge Day and the significance of the University of El Oued being a pioneer and platform for scientific and cultural discourse within the framework of the university’s openness to its social environment. This includes inviting scholarly and cultural figures to the university to deliver lectures, and seminars, and benefit from their expertise.
The agenda included two key points: firstly, explaining the memorandum from the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, No. 2022/1936 dated December 14, 2022, regarding the designation of Knowledge Day in each university institution. Secondly, developing a program to propose the names of influential scientific and cultural figures in the Algerian arena to be invited to activate the university’s Knowledge Day event, with one personality suggested per month.
Regarding the first agenda item, the Committee Chair read out the Secretary-General’s memorandum and then provided a detailed explanation with input from the members. The memorandum, as stated, aims to enhance the openness of higher education institutions to their external environment by inviting scientific and cultural figures from across the national territory, in coordination with the relevant authorities in the province, to conduct lectures and meetings within the university environment at least once a month. The memorandum also highlighted that this initiative would enable Algerian universities to reclaim their natural and pioneering role in leading public discourse by attracting reputable scientific figures and embracing constructive ideas, as well as sharing leading cultural and artistic knowledge. This would inject vitality and dynamism into university life.
Regarding the second agenda item, after discussion and exchanging views, the attendees proposed a list of names of scientific and cultural figures to be contacted after presenting the names to the university’s rector for approval. They also discussed logistical and organizational aspects to ensure the success of Knowledge Day.
The proposed names are as follows:
- Professor Zouhour Wanesi Adeeba, former Minister
- Professor Mohammed Saleh Al-Sadik, scholar, writer, and historian
- Professor Abdelaziz Khalaf, economist and presidential office advisor
- Professor Abdelmajid Chiki, advisor to the President of the Republic on national archives and national memory
- Professor Saleh Balaid, Head of the Supreme Council for the Arabic Language
- Professor Abdelhamid Bouraio, anthropologist
- Professor BelKacem Haba, inventor and scientist
- Professor Nadal Jassim, astrophysicist
- Professor Riad Bouache, artificial intelligence researcher
- Nour Al-Din Ben Brahim, Head of the National Observatory for Civil Society
The Committee decided to postpone adding prominent names from literature and the arts for later discussion.
The members agreed that these proposed names remain within the scope of preliminary suggestions and will not be finalized until consultation and approval from the university’s rector, who may assist the Committee by adding or modifying the proposed names.
The meeting concluded at 12:00 PM on the same day, month, and year.
Committee Chair Dr. Khalifa Gaïd
