On 16 December 2025, Mr. Kamel Baddari, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Mr. Mondher Belaid, his Tunisian counterpart, oversaw the activities of the seventh Forum of Algerian and Tunisian Border Universities (5+5) at the “Mohamed Cherif Messaadia” University in Souk Ahras. The event was held under the theme “Higher Education in the Era of Digitisation: Knowledge, Innovation, and Economic Competitiveness”, and was attended by officials from the higher education and scientific research sector, as well as university rectors, and professor-researchers from the border provinces of both countries. 

The programme of this scientific forum includes discussion sessions and workshops aimed at exchanging experiences and presenting successful experiments for supporting innovative students. It also features sessions on remote teaching and digital transformation, as well as the signing of cooperation agreements to strengthen academic and research partnerships between higher education institutions in both countries. 

This two-day forum aims to enhance collaboration between universities and research institutions of Algeria and Tunisia, exchange of students and professor’s delegations, share scientific expertise, promote innovation and entrepreneurship among students, and connect scientific research to its economic and developmental context.  

The forum programme also includes key themes encompassing scientific sessions, workshops and exhibitions on innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as project presentations by students and researchers in science and technology fields. There will also be sessions addressing remote teaching, digital transformation, and modern educational platforms.     

This academic event demonstrates both countries’ commitment to strengthen bilateral cooperation and to improve border universities. This include the following institutions: « Larbi Tebessi » (Tebessa), « Mohamed Cherif Messaadia » (Souk Ahras), « Chadli Bendjedid » (El Tarf), Martyr « Hamma Lakhdar » (El Oued), as well as the university of « Badji Mokhtar » (Annaba) from the Algerian side, and the universities of Gafsa, Kairouan, Sfax, Jendouba and Gabes from the Tunisian side.   

As mentioned, this collaboration aims to support sustainable development and promote scientific and intellectual integration in the border region between the two countries.

In his speech, Mr. Kamel Baddari emphasised the pivotal role of the universities in the Algerian and Tunisian border region, considering them a “key driver” of development in the area and a contributor to the advancement and prosperity of the local population. He also described this partnership between the ten universities as a “successful model of integration between the two countries and a reinforcement of Maghreb unity in the field of higher education and scientific research”.

In his speech, the Tunisian Minister of Higher Education highlighted the “central role” of Algerian and Tunisian border universities in promoting academic and research collaboration. He affirmed that these universities “are no longer just institutions for the transfer of knowledge, but also centres of its production, fostering innovation capacities and serving as bridges for economic, social and cultural integration”.           

On this occasion, the Tunisian minister also emphasised the importance of strengthening research partnerships and establishing joint master’s and doctoral programmes. He added that exchanging experiences and adopting modern digital platforms would guarantee efficient academic collaboration between the Algerian and Tunisian universities.