Eleven UK universities welcomed to Egypt by the Prime Minister His Excellency Engineer Mostafa Madbouly and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research His Excellency Dr Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar

UK and Egypt sign an MOU aiming at developing strategic partnership between Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research and the University of Liverpool

A high-level delegation representing eleven UK universities is visiting Egypt from 24 – 27 June to explore higher education and research collaboration. The delegation was invited by H.E. Dr Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, Egyptian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The group was also welcomed by Prime Minister, H.E. Engineer Moustafa Madbouly.

During a meeting between the delegation and H.E. Dr Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) and the University of Liverpool signed an MoU. The MOU aims at developing the strategic partnership between the Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research and the University of Liverpool through joint research and innovation activities, the exchange and training of the academic staff and students, as well as educational capacity building initiatives, together with other activities of common interest, relating to the development of institutional partnerships and the establishment of an International Branch of the University (IBC).

The signing follows a successful visit by H.E. Dr Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar to the UK in January 2018 during which a bilateral governmental Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed. This set out expectations of the conditions under which UK universities would be able to establish international branch campuses (IBCs) in Egypt. 

The UK delegation is led by Vivienne Stern, Director, Universities UK International. Universities UK International has organised the event in partnership with the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the British Embassy in Cairo and the British Council in Egypt. 

During a series of high-level meetings, the delegation will discuss topics including:

How UK universities can respond to and support the Egyptian government’s aims under their national sustainable development strategy Egypt Vision 2030, for the mutual benefit of both countries and their higher education sectors.
The wide range of potential partnerships between Egypt and the UK including, but not limited to, IBCs; building on a position of comparative sector strength strategic. This includes: partnerships; collaborative research; student and staff exchange programmes; joint funding applications; and capacity building.
The UK’s interest in engaging both in the capital and across the country.
The success of current UK-Egypt higher education partnerships.
The University of Liverpool was the first to establish the study of Egyptian archaeology with the appointment of John Garstang in 1902. The University remains the largest centre for Egyptology research in the UK and now focuses on the preservation and access to important cultural heritage assets.  

Senior representatives from the following universities and organisations will be joining Vivienne Stern: Coventry University; Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh; University of Portsmouth; University of East Anglia; Edinburgh Napier University; Cardiff Metropolitan University; University of Hertfordshire; Canterbury Christ Church University; University of Leicester; University of Liverpool; Manchester Metropolitan University; UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office; UK Department for Business; Energy and Industrial Strategy; UK Department for International Trade; and British Council Egypt. 

The programme includes meetings with the Presidents of: Cairo University; Ainshams University; Helwan University; Mansoura University; Suez Canal University; American University in Cairo; Future University; New Giza University; Alexandria University; Zewail City of Science and Technology; and E-JUST University. The group will also engage with the Supreme Council of Universities; the National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Education (NAQAAE); and the New Capital Development Authority.

Egypt is currently the fifth largest host country worldwide of UK transnational education – with over 19,800 students enrolled on UK programmes. The number of UK-Egypt co-authored research papers is also increasing, bolstered by bilateral initiatives such as the Newton-Mosharafa Fund, and the UK is currently Egypt’s fourth largest international research collaboration partner (source: SciVal).

Vivienne Stern comments: “UK and Egyptian universities have been working together for many years. It’s extremely important that we expand access to the highest quality of education to Egypt’s large youth population. It i