Yesterday, the two-day conference of the Universities and Academies of Northern and Eastern Syria came to an end with the reading of a final declaration. At the conference on the campus of the University of Rojava in Qamishlo, the development of a common university system and corresponding guidelines were discussed.

The final declaration states:

"Our conference has taken place in a historic section of a revolutionary process. The founding of universities and academic work is as heavy as they are meaningful in a revolution. For the past three years, universities have been founded in Afrin, then in Cizire and most recently in Kobanê. Since the beginning of the revolution, educational work has been carried out in dozens of academies in various disciplines.

The experience of recent years has shown that we have a systemic problem in higher education and academic work. This problem exists both between the regions and within the regions themselves. Therefore, there existed a need for a common system in higher education. This system aims for not the homogenization of all universities and academies but cooperation on main lines. This principle is necessary for a democratic governance, equal opportunities, establishment of justice, reflection of women’s will, democratic representation and autonomous universities.

With this objective in mind, the reports of all three universities were read out and evaluated at the conference. Two days of conference witnessed a discussion on the draft constitution for higher education. Further topics of discussion were the regulations of students’ assemblies, women’s assembly, discipline and resolution, as well as evaluation criteria in educational work.

The conference was attended by a wide range of participants and represents an important step towards building a common system of universities and academies in northern and eastern Syria.”