Dr. Abdel Aziz Konsowa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, received Mr. Mark Bryson-Richardson, British Ambassador to Cairo, and Mr. Mark Howard, Director of the British Council in Egypt, to discuss ways of enhancing joint cooperation between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United Kingdom. The meeting was attended by Dr. Walaa Sheta, CEO of the Science, Technology and Innovation Funding Authority (STDF); Dr. Ayman Farid, Assistant Minister and Head of the Cultural Affairs and Missions Sector; and Dr. Salma Yousry, Assistant Minister for International Cooperation.
The British side was also represented by Ms. Heba El-Zein, Director of Education at the British Council in Egypt, and Ms. Andrella Das from the British Embassy.
At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. Abdel Aziz Konsowa emphasized the depth and strength of the relations between Egypt and the United Kingdom, which are reflected in a longstanding strategic partnership across various development sectors, particularly in higher education, scientific research, and innovation.
He noted that this partnership represents one of the most successful models of international cooperation, in light of the significant expansion of British university branches in Egypt, joint and dual degree programs, research collaboration between academic institutions in both countries, student exchange programs, as well as close cooperation in training and capacity-building initiatives.
The Minister added that the Egyptian state is implementing an ambitious strategy for the internationalization of higher education, aimed at transforming Egypt into a regional hub for educational services in the Middle East and Africa, leveraging its strategic geographic location as a gateway to the African continent.
He also highlighted Egypt’s expansion in establishing branches of Egyptian universities in African countries, which enhances Egypt’s role in exporting education and building human capacities at the regional level. He stressed Egypt’s commitment to strengthening international partnerships, including cooperation with the United Kingdom, in ways that enhance the competitiveness of Egyptian academic and research institutions globally.
Dr. Konsowa reviewed the Ministry’s plan to restructure academic programs, noting the existence of a dedicated committee overseeing this process, with the aim of strengthening the linkage between academia and industry and aligning curricula with labor market needs.
He also referred to the expansion of technology valleys within universities and research centers to transform scientific research outputs into economic and industrial applications, support startups, facilitate technology transfer and localization, and enhance the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
The Minister also discussed mechanisms for cooperation with the British side in the field of technological education, as one of the main pillars for developing Egypt’s higher education system. He pointed to the ongoing expansion of technological universities and the modernization of their programs according to the latest international applied education systems, in line with the state’s sustainable development requirements.
He underlined the importance of cooperation with British institutions in transferring expertise related to designing skills-based programs, implementing competency-based education systems, enhancing practical training, and linking the educational process to industry needs, thereby contributing to the preparation of graduates qualified for the labor market.
The meeting also addressed cooperation agreements between the Science, Technology and Innovation Funding Authority (STDF) and the British Council, aimed at supporting joint research projects and building research capacities.
In addition, the participants reviewed developments in cooperation with Russell Group universities, as well as ongoing partnerships with the University of Exeter.
For his part, the British Ambassador affirmed that Egypt is considered a key strategic partner for the United Kingdom in the field of international education. He pointed out that Egypt is among the largest recipients of UK transnational education outside the United Kingdom, reflecting the strength and depth of relations between the two countries, and reaffirmed his country’s commitment to expanding cooperation in the coming period.
Mr. Mark Howard, Director of the British Council in Egypt, expressed the Council’s pride in its partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, affirming the Council’s continued support for academic and research cooperation programs and its commitment to expanding partnership opportunities with Egyptian universities, particularly in the fields of innovation and capacity building.
