Paris:Egypt has put forward its candidacy for a seat on the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the 2029-2033 term. Abdel Aziz Qonsowa, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Acting Minister of Culture, made this announcement, emphasizing Egypt's commitment to supporting the development of the UN agency and enhancing its role in education, scientific research, and cultural heritage preservation.

According to State Information Service Egypt, during his speech at the 225th session of the UNESCO Executive Board in Paris, Qonsowa outlined Egypt's initiatives to advance its higher education, scientific research, and innovation systems. He also shared Egypt's perspectives on various issues presented to UNESCO.

Qonsowa praised the efforts of UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany, particularly his reform strategy under the "UNESCO 80" initiative, aimed at boosting the agency's efficiency, managing resources better, and diversifying funding sources. On education, he highlighted the responsible use of artificial intelligence to enhance educational quality and support educators, while maintaining the central role of humans in the educational process.

The Minister also discussed Egypt's plans to implement the Tier 1 model for leading global universities at five institutions within the country. He noted an Egyptian initiative adopted by UNESCO's General Conference to mark August 21 as World Underwater Cultural Heritage Day, underscoring Egypt’s dedication to cultural heritage protection.

In water sciences, Qonsowa stressed Egypt's focus on collaborating with UNESCO through the Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme to manage water resources sustainably and govern transboundary waterways. He highlighted the role of the African Centre for Water and Climate Adaptation, which is now a UNESCO Category 2 Centre, in enhancing the skills of African professionals in this field.