On the morning of Monday, October 7, 2024, the University President, Prof. Mohammed
Saad, welcomed the Italian Consul General in Benghazi, Mr. Francesco Di Luigi. A meeting
was immediately convened upon the arrival of this esteemed guest, attended by the Director
of International and Academic Cooperation and several university leaders.
The President opened the meeting by welcoming the Consul and expressing his and the
University Council’s delight at the visit, which signifies interest in educational and cultural
matters, as well as enhancing cooperation in these fields. He provided a brief on the
university’s role in driving substantial positive changes in Libya’s higher education system by
adhering to quality standards, governance, and adopting innovative, non-traditional teaching
approaches seen in modern global universities.
The President also stressed the university’s commitment to forming unique partnerships with
international institutions, highlighting collaborations with several European universities,
including Italian ones. He mentioned recent academic visits, alongside the Director of
International and Academic Cooperation, to several Italian universities, which led to
agreements that will boost cooperation between the university and its Italian counterparts.
Dr. Ali Saeed, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Environmental Affairs and Sustainability,
expressed his appreciation for the visit, which represents a model of cultural diplomacy that
broadens positive collaboration and exchange. Meanwhile, the Director of International
Cooperation gave a brief overview of the university’s delegation’s recent visits to several
Italian universities.
The Italian Consul expressed his satisfaction with visiting the university and his pride in what
he heard about its contributions to development, its adoption of international methodologies,
and the cooperation between the university and Italian institutions. He praised the visit and
the agreements reached, and he reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing academic
cooperation between Italian and Libyan universities, with a special focus on this institution.
He also commended the university’s commitment to environmental sustainability principles.
The introductory session included a short documentary about the university. The President
then led the Consul on a tour to showcase the university’s facilities, during which the Consul
expressed his admiration for the modern systems and infrastructure, comparable to those in
leading global universities.
