Egyptian students abroad keen on 'correcting mental image' of their country

CAIRO – 17 February 2021: Egyptian students abroad requested media content about achievements in the country to “defend” Egypt when there are attempts to distort its image, according to a Tuesday statement by the Immigration Ministry.

In the framework of conferences under the slogan “Egypt Can” that focuses on political involvement and youth empowerment, students abroad participated via video calling in a seminar attended by Immigration Minister Nabila Makram, Egypt Can experts, and members of the Coordination of Party Youth and Politicians (CPYP).

The students praised the experience of CPYP and said they want to benefit from the group’s ideas. CPYP was established in 2018 after President Sisi called for developing political life. It aims at forming a dialogue platform between youth from different political movements.

To correct the “mental image” of Egypt, “we count on our youth abroad as a soft and influential force,” Makram said, adding that the ministry’s Dialogue Center for Egyptian Students Abroad is the platform that will play this role of support and information about everything in Egypt, linking the students to all institutions at home.

Of the participating students, Ahmed Dorgham, a researcher at St. Petersburg University in Russia, said students abroad represent a shield for the Egyptian state and are keen on presenting the “real image” of Egypt. He added that learning at national universities in Egypt should be promoted so students do not join sub-standard universities abroad even though there are great universities in the country.