Egypt is stepping up efforts to bridge the gap between higher education and the labour market through coordinated initiatives by the Ministries of Higher Education and Labour.
The new measures aim to align academic programmes with workforce demand, expand practical training, and introduce a national initiative to prepare specialised cadres in occupational safety and health.
Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Abdelaziz Konsowa, held discussions on Thursday with Labour Minister Hassan Radad, to discuss co-operation between the two ministries.
During the meeting, Konsowa stressed the importance of revising curricula to meet evolving labour market requirements, expanding applied and technological education, and integrating safety and health concepts into academic programmes.
A high-level committee of experts would review academic curricula, track graduate employment indicators, introduce new specialisations, and strengthen partnerships with the private sector to improve graduate employability, he added.
For his part, Minister Radad underlined that co-operation with the higher education sector is central to his ministry’s strategy, particularly in addressing the mismatch between education outcomes and labour market needs. He announced a national initiative to train professionals in occupational safety and health through accredited diplomas, master’s programmes and practical training modules.
He also outlined plans to launch a national employment strategy, update the occupational classification guide, and expand specialised job fairs. The two ministries agreed to carry on with close coordination to ensure that education and training systems produce graduates capable of competing domestically and internationally, in support of Egypt’s Vision 2030 objectives.
