Egypt's ministry of higher education signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with leading universities in France, Italy, and the Netherlands to expand cooperation in architecture and urban planning, the Cabinet said on Tuesday. The agreements, signed during the launch of the International Academy of Architecture and Urbanism in the New Administrative Capital, involve the Grenoble National School of Architecture ENSAG-UGA (France), Sapienza University of Rome (Italy), and Erasmus University Rotterdam (Netherlands). The MoUs set a framework for joint postgraduate programmes, student and faculty exchanges, and applied research in fields such as heritage conservation, sustainable urban development, and new technologies. The Cabinet said the partnerships aim to establish Egypt as a regional hub for advanced architectural and urban studies while enriching the local and regional labour market with highly qualified professionals trained to international standards. Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly, Minister of Higher Education Ayman Ashour and Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, witnessed the signing of the memoranda of understanding. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English