Sisi follows up on development of research facilities

CAIRO – 2 December 2017: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi met on Saturday with Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Khaled Abdul Ghaffar, Presidential Advisor for Urban Planning Amir Sayed Ahmed and Chairman of the Engineering Corps of the Armed Forces Kamel Al-Wazir.

According to presidential spokesman Bassam Rady, the meeting included ongoing efforts to develop and upgrade university research facilities and educational institutes across Egypt.

Ghaffar presented ongoing plans to establish university facilities in a number of governorates in order to improve educational services nationally, pointing out the ministry's keenness to promote the use of advanced technological at institutes of higher education and scientific research to keep up with today’s demands.

The meeting also discussed ongoing negotiations with a number of major international universities to establish branches in the new capital, including Canadian and British universities, as well as national universities, added Rady.

Ghaffar stressed concerns that the establishment of universities in the new capital should be a model for university education and scientific research, which the state seeks to provide in accordance with international standards in order to contribute to upgrading educational and research systems in Egypt.

The Minister of Higher Education briefed Sisi on the steps necessary to establish the University of Jalal in accordance with the highest international scientific standards, including a science academy, independent hospital and residential housing for students.

For his part, the president asserted that foreign expertise should be utilized to develop and modernize university education and scientific research, especially in new university complexes, including the development of facilities and updating curriculum.

The president also stressed that development efforts should result in tangible improvements in higher education and practical research services, followed by improvements in the rankings of Egyptian universities.