Syria (2007-2010)
Technical Assistance Service Contract for the implementation of the project “Upgrading the Higher Education Sector in Syria“
Detailed Narrative Description of the Project:
The assignment is undertaken in support of the Higher Education Sector development programme of the Syrian Ministry of Higher Education. This sector programme aims to enable the Syrian Higher Education sector to respond more efficiently and effectively to the needs of the economy. To provide a range of advisory, capacity building and training services at both Ministerial and university level. Special attention is also paid to capacity building and training for Syrian staff of the Programme Management Unit that has been set up within the Ministry. Key components supported under the TA contract are:
(i) higher education policy analysis and higher education policy development (e.g. in the fields of QA, use of medium-term expenditure frameworks) and higher education governance. Attention is also paid to the relationships between public and private universities and the relationship between the Ministry and the higher education sector as a whole. Strengthening relations with the Syrian ‘world of work’ is a key issue in this respect as well and will be connected to higher education curriculum development in selected priority areas;
(ii) quality assurance and accreditation, with an eye for QA at both institutional and Ministerial levels (including the establishment of a QA centre of excellence, national academic reference standards), staff development, etc.,
(iii) the development of a Medium Term Expenditure Framework as an important guiding instrument for the further development and realignment of higher education;
(iv) the development of a higher education management information system that links both Ministry and higher education institutions.