CAIRO: Academics, international experts and national policy makers, convened at the American University in Cairo (AUC) to discuss developing and promoting entrepreneurial education in Egyptian universities. The program, “Enhancing Employability and Competitiveness in Egypt: Empowering University Graduates through Entrepreneurship Education,” was presented as part of AUC’s partnership with the European Training Foundation (ETF), Europe’s specialist agency for the development of human capital. The event was attended by Salwa El-Ghareeb, head of the Supreme Council of Universities; Anthony Gribben, European Training Foundation, Italy; Silvia Criscimbini, EU Delegation, Egypt; David Kirby, British University in Egypt; and Hany Barakat, first undersecretary, Ministry of Trade and Industry, and EuroMed charter coordinator. ETF recently selected AUC to pilot a set of indicators for promoting entrepreneurial learning in higher education in Egypt. It is the only academic institution in Egypt selected to participate in the first phase of the two-year project. Working with universities from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Algeria, Morocco and Kosovo, the project will highlight strategic developments in campus entrepreneurial education with a particular emphasis on university strategy, curriculum staff development and university – enterprise cooperation. Hassan Azzazy, chair of the chemistry department at AUC and organizer of the meeting, outlined a range of measures now in place that promote entrepreneurship at AUC. The measures included the university’s participation in an international road-test of indicators designed to promote campus-wide entrepreneurship education. “More effort is needed by Egyptian universities to promote the entrepreneurial spirit, including a concerted effort to develop entrepreneurship educators,†said Azzazy. “We also need a broad media effort to promote greater awareness.†Azzazy also pointed out that AUC is cooperating with the Supreme Council of Universities on the creation of policy options to advance entrepreneurial education in Egypt. Salwa El-Ghareeb, head of the Supreme Council of Universities, underlined the problem of high unemployment rates of Egyptian graduates and the need to create more substantial cooperation between universities and enterprise. “We need to build more awareness of the potential of entrepreneurship and this needs policy support,†she told the attendees. Hany Barakat of the Ministry of Trade and Industry congratulated AUC on its innovations to promote a more vibrant and entrepreneurial culture within its local community. “We can’t rely on our traditional industrial sectors to help us compete in global economy,†said Barakat, “the university establishment has to work with, and support, local enterprises. A more market-responsive university system is now required.†AUC undergraduates Omar Motaweh and Bahi Ahmed also spoke at the event, emphasizing the importance of driving awareness of entrepreneurship among Egypt’s youth. BM
