وزير التعليم العالى: 120 ألف طالب وافد يدرسون فى مصر من 123 دولة

Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chairman of the Egyptian National Commission for UNESCO, participated in the activities of the 2024 UNESCO Forum on Higher Education in Africa, which is being held under the title “The Engine for Achieving Sustainable Development” in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, during the period from 10 to 12 December 2024. With the aim of exploring the transformative role of higher education in addressing the challenges of sustainable development, with the participation of ministers of education, scientific research and innovation from various African countries, a number of African Union officials, representatives of universities and educational bodies, along with experts in higher education and specialists in technical education and youth skills development, and a number of Representatives of the private sector, government agencies, and international organizations.

During his participation in the forum, the Minister stressed that the challenges facing higher education and scientific research in Africa require coordinated efforts in the fields of research, development, innovation, academic exchange, graduate studies, and enhancing employability, noting that Egypt deals with the challenges of higher education through the National Education Strategy. Higher education and scientific research, which was launched in March 2023 and is consistent with Vision 2030. The strategy aims to develop the educational and research system, support the diversity of university education institutions, and link scientific research to the needs of the sustainable development plan. It also relies on 7 main principles: (Integration, interdisciplinarity, communication, effective participation, sustainability, international reference, and innovation and entrepreneurship). He added that the strategy adopts two basic approaches: understanding development activities in geographical regions in accordance with Vision 2030 and studying the impact of the economic dimension and employment opportunities, in addition to the concepts of the fourth generation. Among the universities that focus on innovation, research, interdisciplinarity, and compatibility with labor market needs; With the aim of bridging the gap between education programs and industry.

Dr. Ayman Ashour pointed to the measures taken to advance the research, development and innovation system, by enhancing internationalization through the Egyptian Knowledge Bank, attracting African students to Egypt, and enhancing cooperation with African institutions. The focus is also on multidisciplinary education. To meet the needs of the labor market, empower students to use digital tools, and support research and innovation through digital transformation, explaining that one of the most prominent activities that support research, development and innovation in higher education is the Egyptian Knowledge Bank, which is one of the largest knowledge banks in the world, as it includes 7,000 scientific periodicals, 250,000 e-books, 1,400,000 research theses, and in addition to organizing 1,000 annual career services activities, the bank also makes 28,000 digital resources available in several languages ​​to students from Kindergarten through secondary school, and in the field of publishing support, the Knowledge Bank includes the Egyptian Journals Portal, which contains 1,007 Egyptian journals, 475 Arabic journals, and 532 English journals; Which contributes to enhancing scientific research and development.

The Minister pointed out the role played by the Egyptian Knowledge Bank in improving the classification of Egyptian universities and research institutions globally, as there were 15 universities in the QS global classification in 2025, and the number of universities in the QS classification for Arab countries increased to 36 universities in the 2024 classification instead of 15 universities in the classification. In 2016, the British Times classification for 2024 witnessed a boom in the number of universities after 46 universities were included in 2024, and the number of universities in the US classification reached News for the year 2023 to 19 universities, while the number of universities in the Shanghai classification for the year 2023 reached 8 universities compared to 5 universities in the 2016 classification, and the number of universities in the Leiden classification increased to 13 universities in the 2023 classification. The Minister also referred to reviewing the experience of the Knowledge Bank in Digital Learning Week 2024 conference in Paris, where it was recognized by UNESCO and UNICEF as a beacon of innovation. Education, and the Minister expressed his thanks to UNESCO for its continued support of the Egyptian Knowledge Bank, which is a national platform for digital learning that contributes to supporting more than 110 million people, noting that Egypt hosted a visit to study knowledge portals in May 2024; Which demonstrated the role of the Egyptian Knowledge Bank as a model for sustainable and integrated digital learning systems.

The Minister stressed Egypt’s pioneering role in promoting higher education across the African continent, noting the importance of establishing the Unified African Cooperation Belt, an initiative that aims to work at the national, regional, and continental levels. This initiative seeks to create international job opportunities and exchange mobility between African youth and researchers. At the beginning of their career; Which contributes to strengthening scientific and educational cooperation on the continent. This vision aims to adopt the path of the knowledge economy in Africa and achieve sustainable progress in various fields.

Dr. Ayman Ashour emphasized the strong strategic partnerships that bring Egypt together with influential African and global entities, such as: the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC), the Agence Universitaire Francophonie (AUF), and the National Council for Scientific Research (CSIR), and these partnerships aim to enhance cooperation in the fields of research. development and innovation (RDI); This reflects Egypt’s commitment to enhancing African cooperation and unleashing the potential of African talent throughout the continent, pointing to the coordination meeting with the Network of African Scientific Academies in Cairo last August, which witnessed discussions about its participation in the Egyptian Knowledge Bank. Egypt also received a delegation from the Southern African Development Community ( SADC) to discuss mechanisms for benefiting from the Egyptian Knowledge Bank; To enhance cooperation in higher education and scientific research.

The Minister pointed out that 120,000 international students from 123 different countries are currently studying in Egypt, including 43,824 students from 39 African countries. The Egyptian government has also provided 857 scholarships within the Egyptian Aid Program for the academic year 2024/2025, including 570 scholarships for African countries, and the Ministry launched Higher Education and Scientific Research The Egyptian Scholarship and Educational Tourism Initiative (EGYAID) hosts students from African countries, From all over the world, these numbers reflect Egypt’s pivotal role in developing the next generation of African leaders, and reflect the confidence enjoyed by Egyptian higher education institutions.

Dr. Ayman Ashour stressed that the higher education strategy in Egypt focuses on qualifying graduates with the skills required for the labor market, including African students, noting that the World Economic Forum has identified the 15 best skills for the year 2025, such as analytical thinking and innovation, solving complex problems, critical thinking and creativity, leadership, and the use of technology, explaining that the strategy combines the academic aspect and professional skills. He also pointed out the important role played by employment and innovation centers in Egyptian universities to enhance connectivity with the labor market and provide opportunities for technical training and vocational guidance, noting that the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology In Egypt, three awards are given annually to young African scientists in the fields of agricultural and food sciences, health and pharmaceutical sciences, and water, energy and environmental sciences, with the aim of honoring young researchers and promoting innovation on the African continent.

The Minister pointed out that from 2019 until 2024, Egypt achieved distinguished results in the field of scientific research and publishing, recording 219,060 research papers and 152,425 research papers, with citations amounting to 2,394,708 according to the Scopus Index. Analysis of the results of the annual Global Innovation Index for the year 2024 also showed that Egypt topped the continent of Africa in the number of scientific and technological clusters, with their number reaching 11, representing… 22% of the total clusters on the continent, and Egypt ranked 86th globally out of 133 countries according to the report issued by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) for the year 2024, and Greater Cairo came in first place locally and first in Africa, then Alexandria in second place locally and fifth in Africa, then Mansoura in It ranked third locally and seventh in Africa, then Zagazig in tenth place in Africa, then Banha Shebin El-Kom in 14th place in Africa. Then Assiut ranked 15th in Africa, then Tanta in 16th place in Africa, then Beni Suef in 23rd place in Africa, then Minya in 29th place in Africa, then Kafr El-Sheikh in 31st place in Africa, then Ismailia in 34th place in Africa. Greater Cairo was among the top 100 scientific and technological clusters on the list. At the world level for the first time, becoming the sole representative of the African continent and the Arab world.

Regarding the global and regional agreement on the recognition of qualifications in higher education, Dr. Ayman Ashour stressed that Egypt, as co-chair of the International Conference of States in 2022, played a major role in promoting the revised agreement for Arab countries, and in September 2023, the Egyptian Council of Ministers approved Egypt’s membership. In the agreement, which was subsequently approved by the Egyptian Parliament in December 2023, as these efforts are in line with the aspirations of the Africa 2063 Agenda that we want, and enhances cross-border cooperation in research and knowledge sharing. For a brighter and more hopeful future for Africa.

Dr. Ayman Ashour pointed out the importance of cooperation between African countries, by promoting research, development, and innovation, in line with the biodiversity strategy in Africa, with a focus on combating disease-carrying insects, stressing the importance of cooperation in higher education, by strengthening accreditation bodies. African countries, establishing dual degree programs and university branches, and exchange students and faculty, while training African students in vital fields, such as: epidemic diseases, geographic information systems, and the blue economy.

The Minister also stressed Egypt’s role in strengthening the unified African cooperation belt, which focuses on the areas of research, development and innovation (RDI), student and faculty mobility, and cooperation in higher education, calling on African countries to join the Egyptian Knowledge Bank initiative and the Open Science Initiative, and to promote Academic and scientific cooperation between African countries and the world, pointing out the importance of cooperation in indexing more Arabic and French publications, in addition to creating a classification for African universities in international classification bodies, stressing the importance of expanding cooperation between universities, research centers, governmental and non-governmental bodies. government institutions on the continent, and attracting international investors to support the development of higher education and scientific research.

It is worth noting that the forum represents a vital step towards strengthening comprehensive and innovative higher education systems that drive sustainable development throughout Africa, by highlighting a number of key initiatives that contribute significantly to enhancing education on the continent of Africa, among these initiatives is “Campus Africa.” “Which is one of UNESCO’s pioneering programs in the field of higher education on the continent, and also highlights the UNESCO-China Funds in Trust (CFIT III) project, which contributes to strengthening technical and higher education in Africa.

The Forum also contributes effectively to achieving the aspirations of Agenda 2063 under the slogan “The Africa We Want,” and works to promote innovation, research, and skills development throughout the continent. Which promotes progress and sustainable development in the fields of education and technology.

The forum concluded with a renewed commitment to building comprehensive and innovative higher education systems that contribute to driving sustainable development across Africa, and attendees agreed that cooperation and innovation are the foundation of shaping the future of education, knowledge and prosperity across Africa.