Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) took part in a ceremony at the British Museum marking the completion of the 2026 International Training Programme (ITP) and the 20th anniversary of its launch, the tourism and antiquities ministry said.
The programme has helped build the skills of museum and heritage professionals and strengthen cooperation among cultural institutions worldwide, the ministry said in a statement.
Speaking at the event, SCA Secretary General Hisham El-Leithy said the programme was launched in Egypt in 2005 through co-operation with Egyptian specialists and had since developed into one of the leading international training initiatives in the museum sector.
“Investing in people is one of the most important forms of investment in heritage,” he said, adding that the programme not only provided professional skills but also fostered a global community dedicated to protecting cultural heritage.
Fifty-two Egyptian specialists from museums and archaeological sites in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Alexandria and other provinces have taken part in the programme over the past two decades, according to the ministry.
Many graduates now hold leadership positions and contribute to exhibition development, museum collection management and the training of new professionals, it said.
The programme’s impact extended beyond training by creating lasting professional and institutional ties that supported research and the development of museum practices, El-Leithy said.
He welcomed the renewal of the programme for another five years through 2030, saying international co-operation on heritage protection had become essential amid challenges including climate change, tourism pressures, security requirements and the need to make museums more accessible and inclusive.
With the completion of the 2026 course, the ITP network has grown to 393 graduates from 65 countries, the ministry said.
