RIYADH, 22 April — Saudi Arabia and Germany are to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to promote higher education and research. The MoU will cover exchange of scholars, technical staff, visiting professors and students.
It will also cover joint research projects, academic and scientific events and regular consultations to evaluate the progress of cooperation, a German Embassy official told Arab News.
He said a delegation of German experts arrived here on a weeklong visit to acquaint themselves with the higher education system in the Kingdom.
The delegation is headed by Prof. Klaus Landfried, president of the Conference of Rectors and Presidents of Universities and other Higher Education Institutions in Germany and includes representatives of leading German research institutions.
The embassy official said the delegation would call on Minister of Higher Education Dr. Khalid Al-Anqari who visited Germany in May last year to discuss ways of strengthening cooperation between Saudi universities and German institutions of higher education.
Germany has an ongoing cooperation program with King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology in the field of hy-solar — production of hydrogen from solar energy. A solar village has been set up near Riyadh for demonstrating applications of solar energy in power generation and operation of air-conditioning systems.
The Saudi side has drawn up an extensive program for the German guests featuring visits to King Saud University, the King Fahd National Library, King Abdul Aziz Historical Center and the King Abdul Aziz Public Library in Riyadh.
On April 23 and 24, the delegation will visit King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, King Faisal University and the Aramco Exhibition in the Eastern Province. They will round off their tour with a visit to King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah.
