CAIRO: Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration launched its online 'eCornell' education program in Egypt Monday under the auspices of the Minister of Tourism Zoheir Garranah at a press conference in the Cairo International Convention Center. The program's courses cover financial management, foodservice, general and strategic management, hospitality marketing, and operations management, and will be available to anyone working in Egypt's hospitality industry all year-round in two- and four-week courses. Before the conference, the Minister of Tourism and the Chairman of the Egyptian Tourism Federation Ahmed El-Nahas held a roundtable discussion with Daily News Egypt and selected members of the press to provide an in-depth look into the program. "The launch of the online eCornell programs in Egypt provides an amazing chance for individuals from Egypt and across the region to get a world-class hospitality education in an extremely convenient and easy format, said Minister Garranah. The minister explained that eCornell has a website dedicated to the program where the university's course instructors upload the relevant information for students to view and download, and where there will be a discussion forum established for students to post questions and discuss coursework. While the courses will be conducted entirely online, the minister said, Cornell University has no plans as of yet to establish an office in Egypt or elsewhere in the region. Aside from an introductory session via webcam, all students will interact with their instructors by email, raising questions about how effective course instruction will be. "The concept of online courses is new to Egypt, the minister said, "but I'm certain that professionals in the tourism industry are more than ready and willing to learn to be the pioneers of this new education initiative. In order to qualify for the courses applicants must be able to speak a high level of English and currently be working in tourism. The courses will cost no more than $250, a price negotiated between Cornell and the Ministry of Tourism, and which according to El-Nahas is "a very fair deal for Egyptians. "These online Cornell courses offer some of the finest teaching in the world in an easily accessible format and at a very affordable price, he said. For more information, visit www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/industry/executive/online/courses.html
