| Renowned public university in Berlin to open its first branch abroad in our very own Gouna |
| By Nadine El Sayed |
| Sure, Gouna is the place to go for a good time, good food, not to mention a fabulous tan — but now it’s also the place to go for a good education.Determined to turn El Gouna into a fully developed vibrant community, business tycoon and chairman of Orascom Development Holding Samih Sawiris has managed to bring home Germany’s renowned engineering school. At a press conference this week Technische Universitat Berlin (TU Berlin) announced the launch of their very first international campus in Gouna to host 90 students of various disciples. In the short term, the university will offer three post-graduate degrees; master degrees in energy engineering, water engineering and urban development.
Sawiris announced during the formal launch that he has hopes to introduce more academic services to Gouna’s 15,000 inhabitants and to eventually cater to undergraduate students as well.TU Berlin is the third largest institute of technology in Germany and has graduated market leaders, including our own Sawiris. Five of the university’s professors have won Nobel Prizes for their efforts in the field — experiences that they are hoping can now relay to Egyptian students. The university is a non-profit public-private cooperation between state university of TU Berlin and Orascom Hotels and Developments. Sawris Foundation for Social Development has donated funds to TU Berlin for them to bring their experience and know-how to Egypt.
Set on around 33,000 square meters with cutting-edge laboratory and research facilities, the university prides itself on liaising the scientific education and research with the industry to provide implementable scientific solutions to key challenges through specialized postgraduate programs of applied technologies. This means students are given opportunities to research and implement findings on their surroundings and quickly integrate themselves in the industry they specialize in.
“We are proud to have a very strong cooperation with the industry,” says TU Berlin president Ing Steinback, adding that this is where the university stands out.
Each of the two-year courses will have 30 students and students will all follow the German system and rules as well as spend a semester in Berlin. So far, 20 scholarships are offered in cooperation with Sawiris’ fund to outstanding students with limited financial capabilities but Sawiris announced his negotiations with the private sector to offer 40 more spots. Annual tuition for students will be 10,000 euros.
Sawiris is hopeful this will bring about great change not only to Gouna but also to this field in general.
“I really think that no matter what happens this institute will remain one of my proudest achievements in life,” Sawiris says. “Bring us the best students so we give them the best education.”
Not to mention a pretty decent tan to go along with it.
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