Commemorating 68 Years of Commitment: Algerian University – Yesterday’s Struggles, Today’s Challenges

✏️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | May 19, 2024 — On May 19, 1956, Algerian students answered the call of the National Liberation Front (FLN). With the conviction that graduates would not make better corpses, they left their university benches to join the maquis, determined to liberate Algeria from colonial rule. Sixty-eight years later, although the context has radically changed, the challenge remains immense: to elevate Algeria to the ranks of prosperous nations by actively contributing to pushing its limits, particularly in the economic field.

“Of what use are these diplomas that we continue to be offered while our people fight heroically, while our mothers, wives, and sisters are raped, while our children and elders fall under machine guns, bombs, and napalm… Algerian students and intellectuals, for the world that watches us, for the nation that calls us, for the historical destiny of our country, would we be renegades?” This excerpt from the UGEMA call on May 19, 1956, sounds like an eloquent appeal to the supreme sacrifice for the homeland, remarkably denouncing the futility of diplomas in a context where the nation is subjected.

Since its inception, the General Union of Algerian Muslim Students (UGEMA) has distinguished itself through its activism against colonialism. Under the presidency of Mouloud Belaouane in April 1956, it called for a boycott of classes and exams, thus mobilizing university youth for the national cause. This historic strike on May 19, 1956, massively rallied students to the FLN and the ALN, demonstrating a palpable and often sacrificial commitment. Many students left their university benches to join the maquis, contributing to the armed struggle. Their involvement transformed the dynamics of the liberation war, providing the ALN with qualified and active cadres, ensuring the continuity of the fight against colonialism. In this context, UGEMA also played an international role, advocating the Algerian cause abroad, among international student organizations. The sacrifices made by this youth devoted to the national cause were immense. Many lost their lives in combat or under the torture of colonial forces. Figures such as Belkacem Zeddour, the first student martyr, Mohamed Rachid Amara, Mohamed Larbi Madi, and Hassiba Ben Bouali, to name a few, symbolized this total devotion to the cause of freedom. Their names, inscribed in blood, recalled the extent of the sacrifice made by an entire generation for Algeria’s independence.

The impact of student commitment was not, however, limited to the liberation war period. After independence, former UGEMA militants continued to play a crucial role in rebuilding Algeria.

A University Serving the Economy

Thus, the perseverance of the elders and their unwavering will to serve a higher interest is revealed as a precious legacy passed on to the new generation, which must in turn meet its own challenges to propel Algeria to new heights. These current challenges are numerous and complex, but the country approaches them with determination and ambition. In this regard, the Algerian university is undergoing a decisive shift towards innovation and entrepreneurship, marking a turning point. The objective is to modernize the educational system to serve economic development. This precious diploma thus regains its full value, insofar as competence is put at the service of the economy.

This ambition materializes through various initiatives, such as promoting the spirit of innovation and creativity among students to turn scientific research results into engines of economic growth. Mechanisms have thus been put in place within universities and research centers to prepare graduates to actively contribute to the country’s industrial and economic development.

In this perspective, projects are launched, supported by close collaboration between the university and the economic sector. These projects range from forest fire radar devices to electric cars, including durum wheat cultivation and seawater desalination, symbolizing the transition to a knowledge economy where innovation takes center stage.

The creation of a new technological hub, bringing together five universities and benefiting from partnerships with the Ministry of Startups, also illustrates the government’s firm commitment to this transformation. This hub will become a true crucible of innovation and creativity, stimulating the development of new technologies and the creation of innovative companies.

In this context, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Kamel Baddari, has repeatedly emphasized the importance of making the university competent in information and knowledge, transforming it into real engines of wealth creation. This vision is realized through initiatives such as the university-startup diploma and the university-patent diploma, aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship right from the university benches.

In this context, the Algerian university asserts itself as an essential actor in the socio-economic development of the country, embodying the vision of an emerging Algeria, oriented towards the future and resolutely committed to building a knowledge and innovation economy.

Translated from: https://lalgerieaujourdhui.dz/elle-commemore-68-ans-dengagement-universite-algerienne-combats-dhier-defis-daujourdhui/

About Dzair Tube Media Group

Dzair Tube has firmly established itself as a prominent player among Algerian digital news sites, offering a diverse and enriching content experience. The platform, available in Arabic, French, and English editions, captures the attention of a wide-ranging audience, amassing over half a million daily clicks.

A testament to its commitment to excellence, Dzair Tube received the prestigious President of the Republic’s Award for Professional Journalist in the Electronic Press category on October 22, 2022. This recognition underscores the platform’s unwavering dedication to upholding the highest standards of journalism.

With a significant online presence, Dzair Tube boasts 350,000 subscribers on YouTube, over five million followers on various Facebook pages, and 450,000 subscribers on Instagram. Its digital channel has become a hub for diverse programming, covering news, sports, entertainment, culture, and religion, catering to a broad spectrum of audience preferences.

Equipped with state-of-the-art studios and advanced technology, Dzair Tube’s digital channel has garnered substantial viewership for its varied programs. Hosting interactive discussions with influential figures across different domains, the platform actively fosters public discourse and engagement. Beyond news coverage, Dzair Tube extends its commitment to the production of marketing documentaries, short TV commercials, and high-viewership programs.

The success of the print edition of Dzair Tube’s sports newspaper, “Dzair Sport,” further highlights the platform’s impact, with over 50,000 daily downloads from the official Dzair Tube website.

Honored with the Media Leadership Award from the Minister of Communication, Mohamed Laâgab, Dzair Tube continues to shape the landscape of Algerian digital news, maintaining a position of influence and impact in the media industry.