Sana’a University’s Faculty of Science Hosts Workshop on Updating PhD Programs

Sunday, April 20, 2025 | Shawwal 22, 1446 Hijri
The Faculty of Science at Sana’a University organized a scientific workshop today focused on updating and developing the Faculty’s PhD programs. The workshop was conducted with the participation of a distinguished group of academics and faculty members from the university.
During the workshop, Prof. Ibrahim Luqman, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for the Higher Education Sector, emphasized the importance of considering development needs and requirements when updating PhD programs. He stressed the need to intensify efforts during the undergraduate level to bridge existing gaps and focus on improving input quality to ensure the excellence of graduate-level outcomes.
Prof. Luqman pointed out the global decline in secondary education standards, particularly in physics, which has placed an added burden on the Faculty of Science. Despite lower admission rates, many students are reluctant to enroll, particularly in the Chemistry Department, which was once highly sought after, with over 500 students, but now barely exceeds 100 students.
He also highlighted that development is based on industries linked to chemists, noting that Yemen is heading toward localizing pharmaceutical production to domestically produce 2,000 pharmaceutical items in the future. He further emphasized the need for a large number of chemists.
Prof. Luqman stressed the importance of aligning the outcomes of graduate studies and scientific research at the Faculty of Science with the needs of national development and the labor market. He pointed out that the university had undertaken initiatives to link its outputs with community needs, such as collaborating with agricultural institutions to enhance the performance and outcomes of the Faculty of Agriculture. The Faculty of Medicine has also partnered with health agencies, and he called for similar connections between the Faculty of Science and relevant institutions, particularly in botany, zoology, and potential collaborations with the Agricultural Committee to improve performance and quality.
The Undersecretary for Higher Education also commended the Faculty of Science as one of the most active specialized faculties, noting its Tissue Culture Laboratory, which is unique in Yemen. He recognized the Faculty as a key driver of academic research and its role in enhancing the university’s global ranking.
In his remarks, Prof. Mohammed Qasaila, Dean of the Faculty of Science, explained that the two-day workshop aims to update the Faculty’s PhD programs, particularly those directly linked to economic development. He emphasized that the update process focuses on aligning research with the research map of Yemen and the development needs of the country.
Prof. Qasaila clarified that the programs under review include Physics, Mathematics, Organic and Inorganic Chemistry (with tracks in Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, and Biochemistry), as well as Botany, Zoology, and Microbiology.
Prof. Aref Al-Hamadi, Vice-Dean of the Development and Quality Assurance Center at Sana’a University, reviewed the components and guidelines for preparing PhD documents, including the program’s mission, vision, objectives, and graduation requirements.
The participants, including quality experts, academic development specialists, and faculty members from the Faculty of Science (in Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, and Biology), discussed graduate attributes, intended learning outcomes, PhD admission criteria, and graduation requirements.