CAIRO, March 22, 2018 - PRESIDENT Abdel Fattah El Sisi Thursday called for sustained and intensive action to promote the quality of academic education with a view to improving the standard of university graduates and qualifying them for competitiveness at the international level. Reviewing the progress of pursuing the state strategy for higher education at a meeting he called with Higher Education Minister Dr Khalid Abdel Ghafar, President Sisi also called for the development of the system of setting up new universities so that twinning programmes with the best world universities be a condition for establishing new universities, the Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Bassam Radi, said in a statement following the meeting. In remarks at the meeting which Prime Minister Sherif Ismail attended, President Sisi explained that the overall drive to advance the higher education system would enables the state to meet the requirements of the job market and ensure that graduates are highly qualified and trained. President Sisi also stressed the importance of the Higher Education Ministry to continue its efforts for drawing up special programmes to enhance, develop and refine the skills of university students and encourage their innovative and creative skills, Ambassador Radi added. In the same context, President Sisi highlighted the importance of sustaining efforts aimed at promoting the contribution of university students to the national development process. Dr Abdel Ghafar outlined to the President the progress of action and activities to offer higher education opportunities and to establish more public and private universities such as a new Canadian university in the New Administrative Capital, the new Galala and Mansura universities, Spokesman Youssef said. He also noted that Higher Education Ministry plans are such tailored as to be in harmony with the state plans for development, Spokesman Radi said.