Sahara Occidental

        Tifariti University Research Center

                                Download Bylaws

                                     STATUTES

                 Chapter I – Definition and objectives

                                      Article 1

The Research Center of the University of Tifariti, hereinafter CIUT, has its headquarters at the University of Tifariti – Sahrawi Refugee Camps June 9.

                                      Article 2

The CIUT is a non-profit Research Unit, guided by freedom of research and that does not pursue partisan, confessional or corporate purposes. The CIUT aims to promote and de-velop interdisciplinary research, both fundamental and applied, in particular on the reali-ties of Western Sahara, and proposes:
a) Develop and integrate research projects in any scientific field;
b) Organize scientific groups;
c) Create databases and documentation centers;
d) Disseminate research results through scientific publications;
e) Promote international scientific cooperation.

                                      Article 3

All researchers who present scientific projects validated by the CIUT Scientific Commit-tee may become CIUT researchers. The CIUT will periodically make open calls for pro-jects with the aim of integrating new research networks and projects.

                 Chapter II – CIUT bodies: composition and election

                                      Article 4

The bodies of the CIUT are the following: a) General Assembly of Researchers. b) Sci-entific Committee. c) Executive Committee.

                                      Article 5
                     General Assembly of Researchers

The General Assembly of Researchers is made up of all researchers, doctoral and non-doctoral.
The General Assembly of Researchers meets on an ordinary basis once a year, in person or online, and may also meet on an extraordinary basis at the proposal of at least half of the Scientific Committee.
The Board of Directors of the General Assembly of Researchers is made up of a President, a Secretary and a Member.

                                      Article 6
                             Scientific Comittee

The Scientific Committee is made up of all the researchers responsible for projects vali-dated by the CIUT bodies

                                      Article 7
                            Executive committee

The Executive Committee is made up of 3 directors appointed by the Rectorate of the University of Tifariti for a term of three years. In the event of the impossibility of any of the directors, they may be replaced during their term.

                 Chapter III – Operation of the CIUT bodies

                                      Article 8

                       General Assembly of Researchers

The General Assembly of Researchers will be convened at least one week in advance and must include the date, time, place and agenda.
It is the responsibility of the General Assembly, provided that it is expressly stated in the agenda: a) Debate the Report of the previous year and the subsequent Plan prepared by the Scientific and Executive Committees. b) Modify current regulations.

                                      Article 9
                              Scientific Comittee

The Scientific Committee is responsible for:
a) Prepare activity proposals;
b) Send to the Executive Committee an annual report of activities from the previous year and a plan for the following year;
c) Evaluate researchers and projects that request membership in the CIUT;
d) Open calls for projects in accordance with the priorities of the CIUT and the instruc-tions of the Executive Committee;
e) Represent the CIUT institutionally in scientific meetings whenever so provided by the Executive Committee;
The decisions of the Scientific Committee are made by simple majority.

                                      Article 10
                               Executive committee

The Executive Committee is responsible for:
a) Transmit to the Scientific Committee the research priorities of the University of Tifariti and those of the other SADR authorities;
b) Ensure correspondence and communications between researchers, through a perma-nent secretariat;
c) Maintain and manage the databases and digital platforms of the CIUT projects;
d) Decide as a last resort on the allocation of resources available for the operation of the CIUT.

Tifariti University is named after the Saharan village which became one of the first places liberated by the Sahrawi liberation army.

The creation of a university in the historical period that our nation is passing through has been a hard task, considered by many as an adventure. However, there adventures do happen, and this is, without any doubt, a singular one. If we recall the beginnings of education without any means, without qualified teachers, without hardly anything but the willingness of a people that wants to go on living despite those that have denied its own existence and insist on trying to sing the funeral dirge before its coffin. However, nothing could be further from the truth: the Sahrawi people live, resist, teaches and creates.

In this sense, if we revise the history of universities across the world, we will find similar situations of starting from very little and progressing step by step until their current level as full and general universities.

Thus, we are certain that Tifariti University will succeed thanks to our bravery and hard work as well as to the cooperation and support from our partner universities and associations.

The 23rd of Decembre 2012 – a curious coincidence with the date of the first conference of Sahrawi education back in 1975 – is considered as the official date of the foundation of Tifariti University as a public higher education institution.

Principles and aims

The academic programme of Tifariti University is based on the political programme of the Sahrawi authorities and has the general goal of promoting superior education to a generation. Its main values are freedom of expression, tolerance, democracy, equality, peace, development, friendship, rejection of violence and terrorism as well as mutual respect between the peoples.

Our intention is that the creation of University faculties and the educational offer should respond to the real needs of our people. We also intend to put all our efforts into the liberation of our people and their dignity.

Some of the principles which will guide Tifariti University along its long and hard journey are:

• The creation of Faculties. The educational offer and the different programmes must respond to the social demand of our people.
• To develop scientific projects in the different fields
• To strengthen the cooperation between Tifariti University and its foreign partners – other Universities and Research Centers- which can promote the exchange of experiences, upgrading and training of students and teachers.
• To foster distance learning, with the essential cooperation of our partner universities.

University Centres (Institutes and Schools)

With the objective of deveolping its project of this educational institution, Tifariti University, together with the ministries of Education, Public Health, Culture and Information, consider that the following centres should be considered as the starting bases of future faculties:

• Pedagogical Institute of Teacher Training;
• Nursing School;
• Administration and Computing National School;
• Journalism Institute and Audiovisual, Music and Fine Arts Schools.

Cooperation and university exchange

The main objective of Tifariti University is to establish a fruitful cooperation with the solidary universities and Research Centers through framework and specific agreements which may contribute to supporting our people in their journey towards freedom and development.

Although Tifariti University has been created very recently, has already been able to sign agreements with universities from Spain and other countries, such as:

• Annaba University (Algeria)
• Alger 3 University (Algeria)
• Alicante University
• Argentina Flores University
• Argentina la Plata University
• Batna 1 University (Algeria)
• Bechar University (Algeria)
• Cantabria University
• Cartagena Polytechnic University
• Castellon Jaume First University
• Castilla la Mancha University
• CEAUP (African Studies Center of Porto University)
• Chile Mayor Santigo University
• Ciencia y Informática Peruana University Perú
• Compositela Santiago University
• Constantine Amir Abdelkader University (Algeria)
• Cordoba University
• Cuenca University Ecuador
• Extremadura University
• Germany Institute Orientalisches Leipzig
• Gerona University
• Huelva University
• Italy Ferrara University
• Jaen University
• La República University Uruguay
• La Rioja University
• Laguna University
• Leadership Fórum Internacional Inc Herndon
• Lleida University
• Logos International University Miami florida USA
• Los Hemisferios University Ecuador
• Madrid Alcala Henares University
• Madrid Autonomous University
• Madrid Carlos Third University
• Madrid King Juan Carlos University
• Madrid Polytechnic University
• Madrid The Completeness University
• Malaga University
• Mayor San Andres University Bolivia
• Mostaghanem University (Algeria)
• Murcia University – Navarra University
• Oran 2 University (Algeria)
• Oviedo University
• Pablo Olavide University
• Pais Vasco University
• Pedagógica University Colombia
• San Francisco Javier University Bolivia
• Seville University
• Simón Bolívar University Ecuador
• Tarragona University
• Tindouf University (Algeria)
• Unicajo Montrria University Colombia
• UniBau University Colombia
• Uruguay Catholic University
• Valencia Polytechnic University
• Valencia University
• Valladolid University
• Vigo University
• Zaragoza University
• ZEOK (Zentrum für Europäische und Orientalische Kultur Center for European and Oriental Culture)

The primary cooperation lines are the the following

• To develop academic programmes of the Tifariti University Centres.
• Upgrading of teachers and students, specifically at postgraduate levels.
• Disseminating and raising awareness of the Saharawi’s issues.
• Instalation of a rectorate building, library, culture centre and computer rooms, as well as provision of public transport to have access to these places.
• Contributing with facilities, teaching material and resources for the Tifariti University institutes and schools.
•  

Center for African Studies of Porto University  (CEAUP)

The Centre of African Studies of Porto University (CEAUP) is an organization of research and multidisciplinary cooperation founded in 1997. It assembles researchers, university lecturers and students from national and international institutions.

It includes three fields of work:

1. A research Unit supported by FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia) since 1999. This R&D Unit covers several scientific areas, mainly human and social sciences, and builds up theoretical and applied research on Africa.
2. A scientific society that cooperates with FLUP (Faculdade de Letras da Universidade do Porto) in organizing and lecturing courses on African Studies, promotes international exchange between lecturers and organizes academic meetings.
3. NGDO activities directed to the building and cooperation in projects of development and education for development, within the framework of national and international institutions operating in Africa.

CEAUP publishes the interdisciplinary journal Africana Studia regularly, the monographic series “Estudos Africanos”, “Experiências de África” e “CEAUP Series on Africa (eds. Peter Lang)”.

Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM)

The Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) is a public university that combines  quality teaching, intensive research and high job placement  with a firm social commitment, being a benchmark in these areas, as recognized by various global indicators. In the QS World University Rankings 2023 , the UAM is consolidated among the 220 best universities in the world, thanks to its high academic and employer reputation, as well as its extensive international research network. It is the third best university in Spain and the first in Madrid, and is among the 100 most prestigious universities in Europe. The UAM also stands out as a leader in the Teaching and Learning category among the 79 institutions analyzed by the Knowledge and Development Foundation ( CYD ) report.

The sustainable and easily accessible UAM campuses offer a  complete university experience , as they house all types of services, including libraries, museums and around thirty sports facilities, as well as a wide variety of cultural activities and volunteer and cooperation programs. . 

The collaboration with the Higher Center for Scientific Research (CSIC) in one of the first Campuses of International Excellence in our country has allowed it to create a privileged research and teaching environment and be a leader in Nanoscience, Advanced Materials and Life Sciences. In addition, the UAM is part of the  Civis alliance, a European Civic University , one of the first pan-European campuses promoted by the European Commission (EC).

The official academic offer of the Autonomous University of Madrid includes 50 undergraduate degrees, 8 double degrees and 87 master’s degrees, as well as 34 doctoral programs and almost a hundred of its own degrees.

Universitat de Girona

The University of Girona is a public higher education institution that excels in research and is involved in social progress through the creation, transmission, dissemination and criticism of science, technology, the humanities, social sciences and the arts. It is based in the city of Girona and is part of the Catalan system of public universities. Rooted in the country and an economic and cultural driver, it expresses its solidarity and cooperation in the fight against injustice and in favour of human dignity.