Cairo: Egypt has signed a cooperation protocol with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to launch a five-year Japanese-inspired engineering diploma for post-preparatory school students starting in September. The agreement was signed on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, by the Industry Ministry's Productivity and Vocational Training Authority (PVTD) and the cabinet's Education Development Fund (EDF).
According to State Information Service Egypt, the PVTD, in collaboration with the Ministries of Education and Higher Education, will initiate the first cohort of students from the Egyptian-Japanese KOZEN Institute at its centre in 10th of Ramadan City. The KOZEN programme, based on Japan's advanced engineering education system, emphasizes early field exposure for students. Graduates of this diploma will be qualified to enrol in technological universities, engineering faculties, and computer science colleges.
A cabinet statement highlighted the strategic partnership's aim to enhance the quality of graduates and align education with labour market needs locally, regionally, and internationally. The protocol also includes advanced training in areas such as microelectronics, semiconductors, green energy, and solar panels, alongside knowledge exchange and capacity building for KOZEN instructors.
The signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel El-Wazir, Minister of Education and Technical Education Mohamed Abdel-Latif, and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Ayman Ashour. El-Wazir remarked on the initiative's potential to address market demand for skilled technical labour and its alignment with Egypt's industrial advancement vision. He noted the importance of leveraging Japan's expertise in training technical labour to enhance the demand for Egyptian workers domestically and internationally.
Minister Ashour praised the collaboration with JICA as a successful partnership model, citing Japan's leadership in the field. He referred to the Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology, which prepares students for various labour markets. Ashour mentioned that numerous protocols have been signed with private sector investors to operate vocational training centres, thus addressing industry labour needs.
Minister Abdel-Latif emphasized the ministry's commitment to developing the technical education sector as a pillar of Egypt's economic and industrial future. He noted the establishment of an internationally standardized education system offering globally recognized certifications. Abdel-Latif also commended the cooperation with Japan through the KOZEN model and with Italy through the Don Bosco model, while expressing intentions to expand collaboration with Germany to establish new technical education schools and centres of excellence.
In May, a 118 million euro financial cooperation agreement was signed between Egypt and Germany in the education and energy sectors, including a 32 million euro grant to establish 25 Egyptian centres of excellence for technical education support.