A Dutch Academic Team Visits SCSS

An academic team of 12 Dutch students from the University of Amsterdam paid a visit on Monday to the Sheba Center for Strategic Studies (SCSS) to get an idea about the Center’s activities and its current and future research programs.

In his meeting with the team, led by Dr. Paul A'arts, professor of international relations, University of Amsterdam, the Director of the Center, Dr. Ahmed Saif, presented the Dutch students with an introductory note on the Center and its work plan.  A number of Yemeni students involved in the Yemen –Netherlands Educational Cooperation Program were also present. In his note, Dr. Saif pointed out the SCSS's mission as a research institution that seeks to support the process of decision-making in various fields. He also highlighted the SCSS's research programs that include strategic, security, political, economic, and social studies.

During the meeting, the SCSS's director, researchers and staff responded to a number of queries raised by the visiting team on the academic programs and curricula that should be adopted in order to provide a framework for creative academic studies and scientific research.

The visiting team expressed its appreciation of the SCSS's  institutional organization that makes  it as good as other international research centers. The team also considered the Center an essential step towards promotion of scientific research. The team also showed interest in broadening research cooperation between the University of Amsterdam and SCSS. In this respect, the two parties agreed to prepare a memorandum of understating  between the two institutions.

Dr. Paul A'arts has to his credit many research papers and studies on the Middle East,.  He  is also a member of the advisory board of the SCSS.