29 - 31 May 2024
Farah Hotel, Rabat, Morocco
Summary:
The Arab States Research and Education Network (ASREN) convened its Bi-Annual Meeting on May 29th to 31st, 2024, at Farah Hotel in Rabat, Morocco. This gathering brought together distinguished representatives from various member institutions to engage in a rigorous exchange of updates concerning the progress, current challenges, and prospective developments within their respective National Research and Education Networks (NRENs). The main highlights included the introduction of ASREN's new structure and branding; a comprehensive overview of ongoing and upcoming projects, namely AfricaConnect3, EUMEDplus and Medusa; and in-depth discussions during a dedicated workshop at MARWAN. This meeting set the stage for future initiatives and strengthened regional cooperation among the network's partners.
Each institution provided a detailed account of their operational milestones, infrastructural enhancements, strategic collaborations both regionally and internationally, and forward-looking strategies aimed at bolstering connectivity and services across their networks. The discussions highlighted the collective efforts to overcome challenges, leverage opportunities, and foster a conducive environment for research and education across the region.
The meeting was an opportunity to introduce the changes that ASREN went through, namely management and legal aspects, branding, governance, strategic focus, staffing and re-engagement with various actors.