About the booklet
Syrian Higher Education in Transition presents the initial findings of the SyrIA fact-finding mission to Syrian public universities, conducted in May 2026. The booklet provides a first structured overview of shared challenges, regional contexts, institutional strengths, and priority areas for future cooperation.
The mission formed part of the broader SyrIA project’s evidence-based approach. It brought together university leadership, academic staff, administrators, and project representatives in a series of discussions and site visits at Syria’s public universities.
Mission overview
The fact-finding mission visited eight physical Syrian public universities between 9 and 22 May 2026. The visits covered Damascus University, Homs University, Hama University, Tartous University, Latakia University, Idlib University, the University of Aleppo, and Al-Furat University in Deir ez-Zor.
The purpose was not to rank or evaluate individual institutions. Rather, the mission aimed to understand shared systemic challenges and the diverse regional functions of universities during a period of reconstruction and institutional transition.
Key messages
- Syrian universities continue to operate with strong academic commitment despite difficult framework conditions.
- Reconstruction is not only a physical process, but also a process of strengthening human resources, governance, research capacity, and international academic partnerships.
- Common priorities include staff development, research internationalisation, governance and project management, digital transformation, and labour market integration.
- Physical and digital infrastructure remain important prerequisites for sustainable reform and international academic engagement.
- The booklet provides an initial foundation for continued dialogue, capacity development, and future cooperation.
Outlook
The booklet is a preliminary project output. Its findings will be further complemented through additional quantitative data collection and analysis. A full analytical fact-finding report will follow later within the project framework.
Photo impressions from the mission
Selected visual impressions from the SyrIA fact-finding mission, including university visits, working meetings, learning environments, and regional contexts.
