The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research is carrying out a comprehensive strategy to boost Egypt’s position as a regional hub for higher education, scientific research and innovation, while enhancing universities’ role in supporting economic and social development in line with the state’s vision.
The strategy goes beyond the internationalisation of higher education and infrastructure development to include key initiatives aimed at maximising returns on investment in higher education, improving graduates’ readiness for the labour market and reinforcing universities’ developmental and societal role, Minister Abdelaziz Konsowa, added
The ministry is updating university programmes to better match labour market needs through a high-level committee tasked with regularly reviewing academic specialisations and introducing new disciplines in line with rapid economic and technological changes, he noted.
The plan also includes stronger partnerships with productive, service and technology sectors, as well as the launch of a graduate employability index.
In addition, the ministry plans to establish a Strategic Planning, Labour Market Indicators and Future Jobs Centre to support decision-making through specialised databases and analytical indicators.
In the meantime, it is aligning academic planning with national development priorities and labour market needs at the local, regional and international levels. University career development centres will also be strengthened to better prepare students for employment.
Konsowa highlighted ongoing efforts to improve assessment systems by expanding electronic testing centres, developing question banks in priority disciplines and connecting centres to the internet in co-operation with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
The facilities will also support digital skills and artificial intelligence training and employment examinations in co-operation with the Central Agency for Organisation and Administration.
Since the system was launched, more than 10.6 million students have benefited, over 1.8 million exam questions have been developed, the system has been implemented in 203 faculties and nearly 75,000 electronic tests have been conducted.
He also pointed to the launch of the “Future Skills Academy,” which offers training in technology, entrepreneurship, data science, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, as well as the “Future Scientists” programme, implemented with the Central Bank of Egypt, to support outstanding students from underprivileged backgrounds through tuition, accommodation, financial assistance and skills training.
