Gazette Staff CAIRO, July 28, 2018 - President Abdel Fattah El Sisi held a meeting on Saturday with members of the Supreme Council of Universities, during which he praised the pivotal role, that the universities were playing in the national development process and preserving the Egyptian cultural identity. President Sisi has also directed the university presidents to keep up efforts to upgrade and reform the efficiency of the education services that are being provided to students. The assertion of this firm state policy came at a meeting that President Sisi held with the members of the Higher Education Council and the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Khalid Abdel Ghafaar. During the meeting, which was held before the opening session of the 6th National Youth Conference at Cairo University, President Sisi and the Council members to assess the pace of implementing the education sector's plans of action for developing its services and potentials, Presidency Spokesman Ambassador Bassam Radi said. In this regard, President Sisi 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 local and international job markets. Reviewing the progress of pursuing the state strategy for higher education, President Sisi also called for paying due attention to encouraging distinguished and talented students, Ambassador Radi said. The state strategic vision for higher education and scientific research is part of the Egypt 2030 Vision that the government is now pursuing with the aim of promoting sustainable development. In remarks at the meeting, President Sisi explained that the overall drive to advance the higher education system ensured that graduates were highly qualified and trained to meet the requirements of the labour market. President Sisi also stressed the importance of continuing 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 finding practical and applicable solutions to problems that the society was facing.
