Istanbul – June 26, 2026
His Excellency the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Yacoub Ould Moine, participated today in the opening ceremony of the seventh edition of the global educational technologies conference TETZ 2026, held this year under the theme:
“The Future of Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Peace, Humanity, and a Shared Future”
The event is taking place at the Istanbul Pullman Hotel in Istanbul, Türkiye.
The Minister’s participation began with attendance at the official opening session of the conference at 10:30 a.m. Istanbul time. The event is regarded as a leading international platform focusing on AI-powered educational technologies and exploring ways to transform education through modern technologies in support of the values of peace, humanity, and a prosperous shared future for all.
In the afternoon, at 2:00 p.m., His Excellency Dr. Yacoub Ould Moine took part in the ministerial roundtable meeting organized for ministers participating in the conference. During the session, he delivered the following speech:
Speech
In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
- Your Excellency the Minister,
- Excellencies,
- Ladies and Gentlemen,
Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.
It is my pleasure to express my sincere gratitude to the Republic of Türkiye for organizing this international gathering, which brings us together to discuss an issue that lies at the heart of the future of nations: the development of human beings in the era of digital transformation.
Technology has brought about an unprecedented revolution in the ways we learn and produce knowledge. It has created vast opportunities to expand access to education and improve its quality. However, the question that should occupy our attention today is not: How do we employ technology in education? Rather, it is: What kind of human being do we seek to develop through this technology?
At its core, education is not merely the transmission of knowledge or the development of technical skills; it is a civilizational project aimed at building individuals who possess knowledge, uphold values, believe in peace, respect diversity, take pride in their identity, and feel responsible toward their society and humanity as a whole.
From this perspective, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania believes that the success of digital transformation in education should not be measured by the number of platforms or smart devices deployed, but rather by its ability to cultivate conscious, balanced citizens capable of critical thinking and guided by ethical and human values.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Artificial intelligence and digital learning technologies have created tremendous opportunities to broaden access to education, reduce geographical and social disparities, and make knowledge available to everyone. At the same time, they place upon us a shared responsibility to ensure that technology remains in the service of humanity rather than humanity becoming subordinate to technology.
Therefore, we believe that integrating technology into education should be guided by three fundamental principles:
First: Technology must serve as a tool for promoting justice and equal opportunities so that the digital divide does not become a new form of inequality.
Second: It should contribute to fostering a culture of peace, dialogue, respect for others, and the promotion of citizenship, solidarity, and social responsibility.
Third: It must respect the uniqueness of each society and align with its national culture, civilizational identity, and ethical values. Digital globalization should not lead to the erosion of cultural diversity; rather, it should enrich it and strengthen dialogue among civilizations.
Excellencies,
The future of education will not be built by technology alone. It requires international partnership, exchange of expertise, capacity building, and equitable access to knowledge for all.
In Mauritania, we are working to develop the higher education and scientific research system by expanding the use of digital solutions, strengthening technological infrastructure, and encouraging innovation and scientific research, while ensuring that human beings—with their values, identity, and dignity—remain at the center of all our educational policies.
We firmly believe that preparing future generations is not limited to enabling them to use modern technologies. It also involves instilling the values of integrity, tolerance, moderation, national belonging, and responsibility, so that they can harness technology in the service of development, peace, and prosperity.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The future of education should not be measured solely by the advancement of its digital tools, but by its ability to cultivate individuals who are wiser, more ethical, and more committed to the causes of their communities and humanity.
From this platform, we reaffirm the readiness of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to strengthen cooperation with all partners in building a comprehensive, equitable, and human-centered digital education system that makes technology a means of promoting peace, preserving identity, and achieving sustainable development.
In conclusion, I once again express my gratitude to the Republic of Türkiye for this important initiative and wish our conference every success.
Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.
His Excellency the Minister is accompanied by a delegation from his department, including Mr. Yarbana El Kharachi, Adviser for International Cooperation, and Mr. Sidi Mohamed Ahmed, Director of Information Systems.
