Damascus University and the Saïd Foundation signed two cooperation agreements on May 20 to establish a modern digital university library at the Baramkeh campus and create an artificial intelligence center at the Faculty of Informatics Engineering.
Damascus University said the step aims to support scientific research and develop the academic environment.
The library will provide access to the world’s leading academic databases, along with AI-powered software to support researchers, according to Damascus University.
The university added that the center will be available to graduate students and researchers from various faculties to benefit from artificial intelligence applications in their research.
Damascus University President Mustafa Saem al-Dahr said the first agreement includes establishing a modern smart digital library affiliated with the university, which will rely entirely on digital content instead of paper books. Students and researchers will be able to access the library online and consult the world’s most important academic databases.
He added that the library will be equipped with systems and software based on artificial intelligence technologies, helping researchers and facilitating their access to information relevant to their studies, in addition to a distinctive architectural design that will represent a qualitative addition to the Damascus University campus.
He noted that the library project had been proposed some time ago, but it underwent major development and modernization, and implementation is scheduled to begin soon.
The second project, according to the Damascus University president, concerns the establishment of a specialized artificial intelligence center, a field that has become relevant across different disciplines and areas.
The center will serve students of informatics engineering, other engineering disciplines, medical sciences, and humanities. It will also be available to graduate students and researchers seeking to benefit from artificial intelligence tools in their research work, according to al-Dahr.
In this context, Assistant Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research for Student Affairs Abdul Hamid al-Khaled said in remarks reported by SANA that the agreements come as part of efforts by the Ministry of Higher Education and Syrian universities, led by Damascus University, to develop the educational process and modernize curricula by introducing artificial intelligence technologies, which have become an urgent necessity.
Regarding libraries, al-Khaled said the ministry gives special attention to developing the library system and supporting scientific research for students, researchers, and faculty members.
He also noted that there is an ongoing trend toward improving infrastructure, equipment, and scientific programs at Syrian universities in the near future.
Services Are Free
Abdul Salam Zeidan, director of international and cultural relations at Damascus University, told Enab Baladi that the agreements come within Damascus University’s drive to strengthen academic modernization and digital transformation by building a more advanced educational and research environment that is more open to modern technologies.
Zeidan said the partnership with the Saïd Foundation represents an important step in supporting the university’s knowledge and technical infrastructure through the establishment of a smart library and a specialized artificial intelligence center serving students, researchers, and faculty members.
The project is viewed as a strategic investment in knowledge and scientific research, according to Zeidan. It will help facilitate access to modern scientific resources, improve the quality of research, and raise the efficiency of academic and technical training, in line with the requirements of contemporary universities and in a way that strengthens Damascus University’s scientific and research presence.
Regarding the expected timeline for completing the project, Zeidan said preparatory and technical work related to the project is currently underway in coordination between the university and the Saïd Foundation, including technical studies, equipment, and the required infrastructure.
The project is expected to be implemented in successive phases, starting with design and extending over two years for the implementation phase, with work carried out according to the highest technical standards in preparation for the gradual launch of services once the basic preparation stages are completed, according to the university’s director of international and cultural relations.
He also noted Damascus University’s keenness for these projects to support students and researchers and facilitate their access to knowledge and modern technologies. For that reason, all services of the digital library and the artificial intelligence center will be completely free for all students and faculty members.
This approach is reinforced, according to Zeidan, by the fact that the project is a generous grant from the non-profit Saïd Foundation and reflects its historic role in supporting education.
The university affirmed that the project embodies a model of fruitful cooperation between academic institutions and community initiatives that support scientific and knowledge development.
The two projects are considered major initiatives that require technical infrastructure, advanced equipment, modern software, and specialized academic databases.
At present, Zeidan said, detailed technical and financial studies are still being completed, and the financial and funding aspects will be officially announced after the final executive plans are approved.
He added that these projects will cost millions of dollars, and the university expresses great appreciation for the generous support provided by Wafic Saïd through the Saïd Foundation, which reflects a genuine commitment to contributing to the development of the academic environment and empowering younger generations scientifically and technically.
Zeidan said the smart library will provide an integrated digital system that includes access to electronic books, references, and scientific journals, global academic databases, as well as electronic research and academic support services, contributing to the development of the learning and research environment within the university.
The artificial intelligence center will form a specialized scientific and technical platform to support training, research, and innovation in the fields of artificial intelligence, data analysis, machine learning applications, language processing, and computer vision. It will also support student projects and applied research, while strengthening academic cooperation with various scientific and technical bodies.
if you think the article contain wrong information or you have additional details
