• USTHB and Transylvania University signed a cooperation agreement in Algiers
• The partnership targets joint programs, academic exchanges, and research projects
• The deal comes amid pressure to align training with labor market needs

Algeria’s Houari Boumediene University of Science and Technology (USTHB) on February 2 signed a partnership agreement with Romania’s Transylvania University to deepen scientific cooperation between the two institutions.

The agreement was signed in Algiers by USTHB rector Djamel-Eddine Akretche and his Romanian counterpart, Vasile Abrudan, in the presence of Romania’s ambassador to Algeria, Gruia Jacot. The deal seeks to lay the groundwork for a long-term partnership, although no financial terms or implementation timeline have been disclosed at this stage.

“This agreement is part of our strategy to open up internationally,” Akretche said, adding that an academic exchange program with Transylvania University is currently being developed. The partnership provides for joint training programs, scientific exchanges for students and faculty, and participation in international projects, he said.

Abrudan said the two universities had identified shared interests and common challenges, particularly in technological fields, and called for cooperation based on complementary expertise.

According to Akretche, the agreement will also allow USTHB to diversify its partnerships, strengthen scientific exchanges, and raise the level of cooperation in targeted academic disciplines.

The initiative comes as Algeria’s higher education system faces structural challenges in 2025, with more than 1.8 million students enrolled in public universities and growing pressure to adapt training programs to labor market needs. USTHB, a leading science and technology institution, reflects this trend. The university awarded more than 10,000 bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the 2023–2024 academic year and recorded 11 patents in 2025, alongside the creation of research-based startups, highlighting efforts to link education, innovation, and employment.

Romania’s Transylvania University presents a contrasting profile. It enrolled 21,857 students in the 2025–2026 academic year, including nearly 600 doctoral candidates, across 18 faculties offering programs in engineering, computer science, economics, and other fields. The university also offers fully funded scholarships for international students through initiatives such as the Transilvania Academica program, covering undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral studies, and reinforcing its international outreach.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou