Syria has created the National University for Defense Sciences by presidential decree, merging the country’s military colleges and technical institutes into a single academic system. Defense Ministry officials announced the plan at a press conference on Monday, saying the institution will combine traditional officer training with engineering, applied sciences, management, and strategic studies. The university will encompass the Higher Military Academy, including the National Defense College, the Higher War College, and the Command and Staff College, as well as separate air, naval, and land warfare colleges. It will also oversee a Faculty of Humanities and Administrative Sciences, the Higher Institute for Applied Sciences and Technology, and several military technical institutes. Major General Murhaf Abu Qasra, Syria’s defense minister, said the new university was the result of months of research into Arab and regional models of military education. The goal is to reorganize military training and expand its academic scope to address modern warfare demands, including drones, electronic warfare, and artificial intelligence. Major General Salim Idris, a member of the ministry’s advisory board, said the university will admit Syrian high-school graduates from both scientific and literary tracks. Students will receive a salary during their studies, along with healthcare, housing, and meals. Graduates of officer-training colleges will earn recognized academic degrees, while non-commissioned officers will receive accredited vocational diplomas. The first admissions criteria and academic schedules have yet to be announced.
Article and image source: syrianobserver.com
