Presidential support for Egyptian-African cooperation in the field of higher education and scientific research

Establishing branches of Egyptian universities in African countries, including a branch of Ain Shams University in Tanzania

Allocating 2,702 scholarships to the people of the African continent

Allocating $15 million for the creation of the African Space Agency

Egyptian universities launch medical convoys to conduct medical examinations and surgeries in African countries

Organizing 80 scientific conferences and the participation of 2,300 students in various training courses

The Egyptian-African cooperation in the field of higher education and scientific research witnessed a great development with the support and follow-up of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi during the period from 2014 to 2022, and this led to an unprecedented quantitative and qualitative development in this sector. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, a report submitted by Dr. Islam Abul-Magd, Advisor to the Minister for African Affairs and Space Technology, on the Ministry's performance in the field of Egyptian-African cooperation during the past 8 years.

The report stated that the total Egyptian grants allocated to African countries amount to 2702 scholarships, and these grants vary among themselves. There are grants for cultural exchange programs, grants from the Ministry of Higher Education in the Subcommittee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, grants from Egyptian universities and grants from the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development.

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The report indicated that the research centers are harnessing their capabilities to communicate with African researchers to conduct joint research projects, especially in the fields of (health, energy, agriculture, and water), in addition to the presence of 4 institutes and colleges for African studies in Egyptian universities. The Suez Canal, and the work of branches of Egyptian universities abroad in Sudan and Chad was activated, in addition to the Egyptian medical colleges organizing medical convoys to Africa, during which 1360 cases were examined and more than 980 surgeries were performed.

The report added that the ministry, through the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, provided annual prizes for young African researchers and innovators. To support the scientific research and innovation process and to support African youth, it was announced that 2 African researchers within the Young African Scientists won state prizes in Egypt worth $10,000.

The report pointed out that 150 scholarships for postgraduate studies were allocated to students from African countries at the Egyptian-Japanese University of Science and Technology, funded in cooperation between the governments of Egypt and Japan, and 50 scholarships were allocated from the American University in Cairo and 50 scholarships from the British University in Cairo for African students to study in Egypt.

The report dealt with the training of more than 2,300 young trainees from African countries in short training courses, as well as support for hosting the regional office of the Association of African Universities for North African Countries, which Egypt hosts at Al-Azhar University, to enhance harmony and cooperation between Egyptian and African universities. And the Association of Arab Universities to link Arab universities with their African counterparts.

Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, during the TICAD 7 conference in Japan, launched “the Egyptian initiative to design and launch an African satellite for development,” in partnership with African countries, and is being implemented under the leadership of the Egyptian Space Agency. Egypt also supported hosting the headquarters of the African Space Agency, with an amount of 15 million dollars to create and operate it; To prepare African cadres with distinguished expertise in the fields of science, technology and innovation.

The report pointed out that the ministry seeks to link Egyptian universities with their African counterparts, through partnership and twinning programs between Egyptian and African universities, where memoranda of understanding are signed, joint action plans are drawn up, and student and academic exchanges are promoted, the latest of which was the signing between Cairo University and John Garang University in South Sudan, and the signing between Helwan University and Limpopo University in South Africa, as well as the establishment of branches of Egyptian universities in African countries. The Cairo University branch in Khartoum, Sudan is being rehabilitated, and the Alexandria University branch in Tong, South Sudan has been rehabilitated to open and receive students in the next academic year, and work is currently underway to increase The number of branches of Egyptian universities in other African countries, with raising the efficiency of these branches and increasing educational programs, and consultations are currently underway regarding the establishment of a branch of Ain Shams University in the Republic of Tanzania, in implementation of Article 11 of the memorandum of understanding concluded between the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Tanzanian Ministry of Education, Science and Technology .

The report pointed out the ministry's interest in the field of space research and remote sensing, given their critical importance in the current era, and this resulted in cooperation in qualifying many African researchers to use and employ satellite data to solve common regional environmental problems through specialized training courses, workshops and exchange visits, and is underway. Negotiating with the Republic of China to establish a center of excellence for remote sensing in partnership between Egypt and China, provided that Egypt host the Center of Excellence to serve African countries, and the ministry succeeded in hosting a center of excellence in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, to be ready for training in fisheries management.

The report indicated that Egypt hosted more than 80 scientific conferences and technical workshops, with the attendance of nearly 2,300 African visitors. It paves the way for the Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (Cop 27), which Egypt will host next November in Sharm El-Sheikh.

The ministry has also hosted many creativity and innovation competitions for talented and young researchers; To raise awareness about the importance of education and scientific research as a locomotive for development in Africa, the ministry hosted several meetings of the African Union and NEPAD (the scientific and technical arm of the African Union), to localize technologies and support the establishment of companies and entrepreneurship.

In terms of official participation in the meetings of the African Union, the Ministry, representing the Egyptian state, participated in all meetings of the African Union, where more than 30 ministerial meetings and 65 scientific and strategic meetings were attended. For the preparation and implementation of scientific and technical strategies in the African continent, a framework for cooperation in medical research and Egypt’s experience in the production of vaccines and serums, and how to cooperate and transfer expertise in this field to African countries, has also been developed. in Malawi.

During the Corona pandemic period, several ministerial and executive meetings were held for partnership in plans to confront the Corona pandemic and the precautionary and technical measures taken by Egypt in education and scientific research, and Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar has many Egyptian experiences taken by the Ministry, including relying on hybrid and distance education, creating electronic platforms for lectures and exams, and circulating the electronic qualifying examination system for medical colleges, through a high-accuracy platform, with high cybersecurity to maintain the confidentiality and quality of exams.

Dr. Adel Abdel Ghaffar, media advisor and official spokesperson for the ministry, stated that the ministry places strengthening joint cooperation with various African countries at the top of its priorities, by providing full support to African brothers in the fields of higher education and scientific research, whether at the (bachelor or postgraduate studies) stage in all Egyptian universities. , as well as increasing scholarships offered to students, and supporting the exchange of experiences in various scientific and research fields, noting that the coming period will witness more cooperation to support relations with African brothers, especially the Nile Basin countries, stressing that Egypt has not and will not spare any effort towards supporting its African brothers, and will remain Always outstretched, for cooperation, construction and development for the sake of all African countries.