Tuesday 25 February 2025 
✏️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada
Algiers, Algeria | May 19, 2024 — President Abdelmadjid Tebboune of the Republic of Algeria delivered a poignant tribute on Sunday in Algiers to the youth, lauding their adeptness with modern technologies and unwavering commitment to their homeland.
Addressing students at the “Abdelhafid Ihaddadene” Scientific and Technological Hub in the new city of Sidi Abdellah, in observance of National Student Day marking the 68th anniversary of the momentous strike on May 19, 1956, President Tebboune extolled the youth as “trailblazers of innovation, proficient in contemporary technologies, and profoundly dedicated to their nation.”
Responding to discussions and concerns raised by the students, President Tebboune assured that “the State stands prepared to finance all projects and research endeavors related to startups,” stressing that “financial constraints will never impede the country’s progress.” Underlining the strides made in promoting Algerian universities, now positioned among the foremost in the Arab and African regions, the Head of State expressed conviction that Algeria will ascend “to the highest echelons owing to the prowess of its youth and scholars.”
In this vein, President Tebboune emphasized that the digitization process facilitates “the establishment of a modern economy grounded in authentic data, devoid of any opacity,” affirming that the State “entrusts in the capabilities of students and the proficiency of youth in technology.” Reflecting on the significance of National Student Day, President Tebboune recalled that “on this very day, a cohort of students opted to strike and join the Revolution, thereby enriching its radiance.” Addressing the plight of Palestine, he stressed that “the Palestinian cause is our own,” reiterating directives for the support of all Palestinian students in Algeria.
Youth and Student Inclusion in Decision-Making
Moreover, President Tebboune asserted that “no decision concerning youth and students will be made without prior consultation and without the endorsement of the Higher Council of Youth (HCY),” affirming that he “personally oversees this domain.” In response to the concerns voiced by numerous students, the President asserted that “various issues pertaining to students and the University will be reevaluated, in collaboration with the university community, encompassing students, educators, and student associations,” stressing that “the era of administrative imposition of decisions on scholars and students has concluded.”
In this context, the nation’s foremost magistrate elucidated that substantial material resources were allocated for the benefit of students as part of university endeavors, noting that excellence in higher education and scientific inquiry “is imperative” and “every achievement necessitates tailored incentives.”
Following the decision to augment scholarships, the President tasked the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research with collaborating with all institutions in the sector to “examine incentivization measures concerning specific scientific disciplines and to amplify scholarships for students in these fields.” He also commended “the presence of distinguished Algerian scholars in numerous countries,” viewing their accomplishments as reflective of the caliber of education offered by Algerian universities.
Commemorating 68 Years of Commitment: Algerian University – Yesterday’s Struggles, Today’s Challenges
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.
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