The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research vision and action plan for the coming period took a centre stage at a high-level meeting yesterday.
Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli met on Monday with Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Abdel Aziz Konsowa at the Cabinet headquarters in the New Administrative Capital.
At the outset, the prime minister underscored the directives of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to continue advancing the higher education and scientific research system as a cornerstone of building the Egyptian citizen and achieving sustainable development.
He stressed the central role of universities in fostering quality, developing competencies, expanding training programmes, and aligning graduates’ skills with labour market needs.
He further emphasised the importance of comprehensive automation and digital transformation, including computerised examinations to standardise evaluation criteria, safeguard academic integrity, and enhance educational outcomes.
The prime minister also highlighted the need to expand partnerships with leading international universities and institutions, noting that these initiatives are under the continuous follow-up of President Sisi.
Minister Konsowa reviewed key indicators, noting that Egypt currently hosts 129 universities – public, private, national, technological, specialised, and foreign branches – with additional institutions set to commence operations next year.
An agreement is being finalised with the Central Bank of Egypt to establish a dedicated financing institution supporting scholarships and dual-degree programmes in partnership with prestigious international universities.
The minister outlined a comprehensive vision to position Egypt as a regional and global hub for higher education, research, and innovation, contributing to a knowledge-based economy.
This vision rests on six pillars: Strengthening international partnerships and foreign branches, internationalising major Egyptian universities, increasing international student enrollment to 260,000–300,000 within three years (up from 130,000), linking research with industry and entrepreneurship, advancing private, technological, and national universities, and enhancing faculty capacity and governance in line with international best practices.
The minister also reviewed progress in computerised testing in co-operation with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
Since inception, 9.7 million students across 227 faculties have benefited from 42,000 electronic tests, utilising over one million questions.
