Egypt's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and Zagazig University have signed a cooperation protocol to establish a Digital Egypt Creativity Center at the university. The centre aims to develop the skills of university students and graduates, and youth from Sharqeya Governorate. It also aims to qualify them as needed in information technology (IT) and entrepreneurship for the requirements of the local and global labour markets. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, said that his ministry aims to complete the implementation of new centres in all Egyptian universities. This aims to help them maximise their role in qualifying students for the new technology required by the labour market. The ministry also aims to provide training and eradicate digital illiteracy, raise the capabilities of young people inside and outside the university setting, whilst providing educational opportunities. Abdel Ghaffar highlighted the role of digital innovation centres in qualifying specialised workers in the field of digital transformation. They also serve to raise the level of technological infrastructure at universities, providing services for their geographical surroundings, participating in community service efforts, and improving the environment. He added that the digital innovation centres in universities contribute directly to spreading awareness of the latest developments in information technology, its specialisations, and the skills required for it. Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat said that there is fruitful cooperation between the Ministries of Communications and Information Technology, and Higher Education and Scientific Research, in a number of projects that are being implemented at a rapid pace. They include establishing the Egypt University of Informatics in the New Administrative Capital's (NAC) Knowledge City, as well as implementation digital exams, and automating university hospitals. Talaat said that establishing the Digital Egypt Creativity Center at Zagazig University is the beginning of a real and fruitful cooperation with the university in light of the availability of many areas available for joint cooperation. Othman Shaalan, President of Zagazig University, said that the establishment of the Digital Creativity Center at the university suits the state's general trend in digital transformation. It also helps qualify students for the job market, and open up further job opportunities. He noted that the centre's location within the university was chosen to benefit university students, as well as youth and graduates in Sharqeya Governorate. Shaalan added that the protocol aims to rehabilitate young students from Zagazig University and other universities in neighbouring governorates for the local and international labour market. This protocol aims to establish a Digital Egypt Creativity Center at Zagazig University to prepare workers to contribute to supporting and developing the information and communication technology (ICT) industry. It also aims to provide specialised training services to prepare college faculty members to be trainers. In addition, the protocol contributes to spreading awareness and knowledge of the latest developments in ICT. At the same time, it will set up and organise conferences, hackathons, and competitions specialised in the latest technologies that support knowledge transfer and creativity. Moreover, the protocol supports transforming innovative ideas of young people based on ICT into commercial products or services. Priority will be given to the academic community, namely students, graduates, and faculty members, from Zagazig University. This comes as part of the centre's strategy to develop learning and training mechanisms through the innovative use of ICT. Under the protocol, Zagazig University will allocate a plot of land with an area of 1,780 sqm inside the university campus. This is provided that the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology provides mechanisms for efficient establishing, managing, and operating the permanent headquarters as a centre for training and digital creativity. A plan is being implemented to establish 15 digital Egypt Innovation Centers across Egypt in three phases. The first phase of the project includes the pilot operation of five centres at the universities of Mansoura, Menoufia, Minya, Sohag, and South Valley in Qena. The second phase includes the establishment of centres in Ismailia, Aswan, Cairo, Giza, and the NAC. The third phase of the project will include launching the centres in additional governorates, as cooperation protocols have been signed with Banha and Fayoum University to establish digital innovation centres there.
