The Rector of UNWE Visited Libya and Signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the University of Benghazi

The Rector of UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov visited Libya at the official invitation of the President of Garyounis University - Benghazi Dr. Azedin Idrissi. The University of Benghazi is the eldest and largest university on the African continent, with 73 000 students studying in 17 campuses on the territory of Libya.

The Rector was accompanied by the Vice Rector for International Affairs Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yanko Hristozov. The visit was organized by Mr. Anastas Terzobaliev, informal ambassador of our university in the Arab world through his business contacts.

	Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Rector of UNWE and Dr. Azedin Idrissi, President of Garyounis University - Benghazi, Libya

Prof. Dimitrov, tell us about the purpose of your visit to Libya?

This visit was important for us because we signed a memorandum of cooperation with the University of Benghazi, which is one of the eldest and most prestigious universities in Africa.

For implementing this signing, it was preceded by a lot of different activities - lectures by Libyan diplomats, a meeting with the Libyan ambassador, participation of Libyan researchers in our Conference on Sustainable Development. So, quite logically, we received an invitation from the Rector of the University of Benghazi to visit Libya. I have to say that we postponed this visit several times until we found a convenient time, but in the end it took place, and it took place on the student holiday. I find symbolism in that.

What are your impressions of Libya and the state of higher education?

Libya is an interesting country. It has two governments, but they both talk about unity and a united Libya. They have gone through the Civil War, but what I have seen as an observer is a very fast-developing country that is rebuilt, with modern shops, with smiling people, with very good treatment to our delegation, with wonderful food.

The visit was at a very high level and great respect was shown by the Libyan side. Our visit was fully funded by them, and it was emphasized that I am the first rector from the European Union to visit Libya since the Civil War, and a great desire was expressed to strengthen the cooperation, collaboration, exchange of students, lecturers and postgraduates, because Libya demands qualified and educated people to change the country in the future. Libya is now reopening to the world and there is a great desire for partnership in the field of higher education.

My expectations were that Libya is somehow more isolated due to the international sanctions, but it turned out that there are representatives of the European Commission, observers from the US, representations of other European countries - Greece, Italy. Apart from that, the Arab countries have very active presence. Large-scale constructions take place on various sites in Benghazi. A new airport is being built, a new tourist complex by the sea, bridges, highways. Libia tries to bring order and I see an interesting country with potential for development.

Libya has an economic potential. On the site of the University of Benghazi, which was destroyed during the Civil War a new one has already been built. Several new buildings are also being constructed on the University campus, and USD 125 million have been provided by the Government.

Tell us more about the meetings?

We had several meetings with the President of the University, with the International Cooperation Directorate, as well as with the Deans of several Faculties - Economics, Medicine, Public Administration. All of them expressed readiness to strengthen the cooperation. We consider options for joint programmes, especially for Doctoral studies. This will be specified in further annexes to the Memorandum, and we have ideas for developing joint projects and attracting PhD candidates from Libya.

But our visit also provoked another interest. With the assistance of the President of the University of Benghazi, we received an invitation to meet the Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan People's Army.

The visit was in his residence at the military facilities near the airport. It was a 10-15 minutes meeting where he and I discussed mainly the support for the University of Benghazi to be able to make this cooperation happen.

The conversation took place in a very good friendly atmosphere and with a very good attitude towards Bulgaria. The Field Marshal Haftar expressed high admiration for the academic cooperation between the UNWE and the University of Benghazi.

In my turn, I outlined our interest in academic cooperation.

On the following day we had a meeting with the Libyan Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdul Hadi Al-Hawaij. He noted that nowadays the tools of diplomacy are the education, culture and business. He pointed out that they are ready to negotiate with the Bulgarian state to open a Consular Office of Bulgaria in Benghazi. He offered his support to the two higher education institutions in establishing active partnership relations and showed readiness for cooperation. The meeting was attended by the Directors of the Ministry's Departments involved in the matter.

It was underlined the willingness by the Libyan side to work for the international cooperation between Libya and Bulgaria and for a meeting between our Foreign Minister and his team for strengthening the relations with Bulgaria also in terms of political and commercial representations and especially for the participation of the Bulgarian business in these endeavors.

At the airport in Benghazi, we also met Major General Ahmed al-Mismari, spokesman for the Libyan People's Army and First Deputy Field Marshal. The conversation turned to a discussion of similar topics and the desire to strengthen the relations in the field of higher education.