Almotamar.net, Saba - The Board of Directors at the World Bank (WB) in Washington approved financing Yemen Higher Education Quality Improvement Project (HEQIP) with US$ 13 million.

The project to be implemented in Universities of Sana'a, Aden, Amran, Dhamar, Hadramout, Hodeidah, Ibb and Taiz aims to create the enabling conditions for the enhancement of the quality of university programs and graduate employability.

According to a press release issued by the WB, the project will finance four components: Quality Improvement in University Programs for the amount of US$ 8.2 million, Quality Assurance for the amount of US$ 1.3 million, Institutional Capacity Development for the amount of US$1.4 million and Monitoring and Evaluation and Project Management for the amount of US$2.1 in relation to the activities undertaken under the other three components.

Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research Saleh Ba-Sura said that the government confirmed its commitment to improve the higher education sector, but it needs "much of the help from its development partners".

"Yemen looks to the Bank for its experience and knowledge to provide support to the higher education sector in Yemen" the Minister said.

The Task Team Leader Lianqin Wang said that WB Board of Directors provided the sum to Yemen in response to the government's request to achieve the holistic vision outlined in the higher education sector strategy.

Yemen has eight public universities and 13 private ones. Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has drawn up a National Strategy for Higher Education to tackle the shortcomings in the Yemeni Universities.