Egypt's Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Ayman Ashour said on Wednesday that boosting international cooperation remains a cornerstone of the country's national strategy for higher education and scientific research. The 2024/25 fiscal year saw an increase in strategic partnerships with countries and international institutions, reflecting global confidence in Egypt's academic and research standing, the minister said in a Cabinet statement published on Wednesday. Among the highlights, a French-Egyptian universities forum was held at Cairo University during President Emmanuel Macron's visit, resulting in the signing of 42 cooperation protocols to deliver 70 joint academic programmes. The agreements focused on innovation, artificial intelligence, and climate change in support of sustainable development, especially across Africa and Francophone countries, the statement added. Ashour explained that Egypt's universities have worked this year to expand collaboration with countries that have strong higher education systems, particularly in technological education, while also deepening ties with Arab and African nations. Egypt also signed a preliminary renewal of the PRIMA agreement with the European Union, with Egypt having already secured €17 million in funding for 90 research projects. A new EU-funded Horizon Europe 2025 action plan was also launched to support sustainable water and food systems and entrepreneurship. The ministry signed an MoU with the University of East London and the under-establishment East Capital University to set up an integrated educational complex offering programmes tailored to future job market needs. The minister affirmed that these efforts reflect Egypt's growing regional and global stature in higher education, citing the inclusion of 19 Egyptian universities in the QS Rankings 2025, the statement added. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
