From July 10 to August 10, two main groups of some 300 students each will hone their English language skills under the benevolent but watchful gaze of Tunisian instructors, helped by some 42 language fellows from the UK and 11 from the US, with whom the students will not only interact, but also share cultural and leisure activities.

“It is the first time, the number of English speaking language fellows is so high, in average one fellow for six students, a real bonanza for Tunisian learners”, said Hatem, one of the teachers.

This program which is set under the aegis of the Ministry of Higher Education and  Scientific Research, and in partnership with “Amideast” and the “British Council”, is being reviewed each year, and those who watch over its destiny are making sure that improvements are brought in and students’ and teachers’ recommendations, taken into account.

The managing team which watched over the birth of the project is chaperoned by the director, Mr. Jaleledine Boussedra, a Shakespearian scholar in his own right and the vice-director, Mr. Hichem Hlioui, a British civilization specialist.

Along with the rest of the team they have concocted a rich cultural program for the students and the language fellows, including excursions to historical sites, live music concerts in Hammamet and in village, as well as guest lectures.

Sagaciously, the village’s book of rules spells out regulations including the first: “Here we speak English”.

Certificates are delivered at the end of each session in order to crown the students’ hard work in class and participation in workshops, and cultural events.

In an interview to “Tunisiaonlinenews”, Mr.Hichem Hlioui  informed us that “this year students have to take part in 4 different workshops, “la gazette” the village magazine, “webpage creation”, “Talent shows”, and the 2010 new activity “public speaking” workshop which is assisted by an American expert”.

He also stressed the efforts undertaken in the selection of instructors and guides, chosen among Fulbright recipients who are “greatly contributing to the success of the first session, and are ready to receive the second batch of student within a convivial and relaxed atmosphere”.

The Association members, former graduates from Canadian universities and representatives of Canadian higher-education institutions took part in the event.

The meeting was an opportunity to provide Tunisian students with information on university studies in Canada.

Mr. Bechir Takkari Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research stressed Tunisian- Canadian partnership relations and both countries’ willingness to diversify these ties, and boost the scientific and higher- education cooperation.

“2000 Tunisian students are pursuing higher-education studies in Canadian colleges, institutes and universities, a number which is expected to increase”, said the minister.

Since its inception in 1975, the Tunisian-Canadian Friendship Association has incessantly striven to boost the Tunisian-Canadian partnership relations.

Before joining Harvard on July 1^st, Malika Zeghal was an associate professor of anthropology and sociology of religion at the University of Chicago.

She studied in Paris at the “École Normale Supérieure” at the Rue d’Ulm  and received her doctorate from the “Institut d’Etudes Politiques”.  She also worked as a research fellow at France’s Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS).

Dr. Zghal is an expert on the postcolonial period of the Middle East and North Africa, as well as on Muslim Diasporas in North America and Western Europe, reports the website. She published a number of books including “Les Gardiens de l’ Islam” (1999).

Quoting Diana Sorensen, the dean of arts and humanities at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard, the website writes that “her ethnographic approach, based on her interviews, fieldwork, and reconstruction of the biographies of key players in the Arab world, gives her work remarkable power.”

This annual meeting gathered around 12,267 participants from over a hundred countries.

Tunisia was represented by 2 young Tunisians, Amine Marrakchi and Mohamed Slim Kammoun who were supervised by Professors Mohamed Naceur Manai and Seifeddine Snoussi under the aegis of the Tunisian Association of mathematical sciences.

Chinese, Russian and US mathematicians won gold medals.

Tunisian and foreign lawyers, as well as experts in constitutional law, are taking part in the workshop.

This session will focus its work on constitutional law relative to science and technology and more particularly on the interpretation of the text.

A certificate will be granted to participants who will attend the exam at the end of the session which will run through 23, 2010.

Created in 1984 and composed of some 25 countries over five continents, the International Academy of Constitutional Law (AIDC) headquartered in Tunis, carries out training and research. It works for the promotion, development and dissemination of knowledge of constitutional law.

Mr. Bechir Tekkari, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research stressed, on the occasion, the evolution of constitutional law which he described as a “resurrection of the concept of constitutional law”.

“To immigrate to Canada, one should be a skilled worker with at least a one-year experience in sectors on demand such as health, catering, construction, and mining. Immigration is an issue that Canada cannot avoid addressing, given the country’s needs in skilled workforce”, he said.

He also stressed the possibility for students to work during and after their studies in Canada, adding that they can benefit from an open-work permit of a maximum duration of three years,  in order to gain professional experience.

The ambassador also called to remain vigilant concerning some immigration consultancy offices which, sometimes, give false guarantees for obtaining a residence visa.

With a view to provide students with information on study applications  or immigration visas, forms and prospects for work in Canada, a Canadian education fair will be held in October in Tunis and in Sousse.

Twenty Canadian higher-education institutions will take part in the event.

This competition which will take place in October 2010, in Los Angeles (USA), aims at spreading entrepreneurial culture among students.

The winning group was chosen by a jury composed of Tunisian entrepreneurs, businessmen and academics in a competition organized by the Young Business Leaders (CJD) within the Tunisian Industry, Trade and Handicrafts Union (UTICA), in collaboration with the SIFE organization.

The successful candidate presented an eco design project to recycle waste for manufacturing handicrafts.

Students from eight colleges within the universities of Tunis and Manouba, took part in the screening.

SIFE is present in fifty countries. It aims at training students in management and entrepreneurship.

1336 candidates from various countries took the exams the exams.

In addition to the Tunisian laureates, 592 French candidates and 34 candidates from other nationalities also passed their ‘aggregation’ exams.

The Tunisian Official Press agency TAP reports that the Tunisian candidates’ success in this internationally renowned exam is a testimony of the efficiency of Tunisia’s academic training , namely in mathematics.

Insofar as the printed guide of the orientation is concerned (currently under print), it will be as usual available in secondary schools from June 29, 2010, for the holders of the main session of the Baccalaureate.

The academic orientation guide will be offered in a new version where training opportunities are divided by subject, and in an old version where training opportunities are distributed in different universities.

On this occasion, the Minister said that the current experience of the academic orientation requires an evaluation of this system, through the consideration of many points, including the lack of clarity in delving in the guide’s many branches.

These changes aim at giving greater clarity to students according to their ability and scientific potential.

The new guide which will be distributed to new graduates during the coming weeks is distinguished by clarity of choice for new students.

The number of specialties were also reduced from 720 to 580.

The amendments were carried on the structure of training, through the emphasis on specialized studies, since the beginning so that the process of university education ends with specific functional and industrial specialties, the case of vocational courses.

Changes were also made on engineering training in accordance with the requirements of the job market where some specialties are no longer required.

Among the novelties is the creation of “l’école normale supérieure pour l’enseignement des langues et des sciences humaines”, one which is aiming at assisting in the training of teachers with a high scientific quality in this area, whether at a secondary or university level.

Some changes will also be made to the new  “LMD” system whose examination platform will be alleviated.

The meeting was also marked by interventions on the system of academic orientation and career services in employment offices and self employment.