Cairo: Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Ayman Ashour welcomed the Australian Ambassador to Cairo, Axel Wabnehrst, during a meeting held at the Ministry of Higher Education building in New Cairo. The meeting was also attended by Dr. Ayman Farid, Assistant Minister for Strategic Planning and Training and Qualification for the Labour Market, and Dr. Nevin Mohamed El-Saghir, the Minister's Advisor for Marketing and Public Relations.
According to State Information Service Egypt, Dr. Ayman Ashour emphasized the strong connections between Egypt and Australia, particularly in the realm of higher education and scientific research. He remarked on the mutual academic and student exchange programs and Egypt's intention to further expand these partnerships. The Minister highlighted the growth of the Egyptian higher education system, characterized by new university establishments, foreign university branches, and dual degree programs with international institutions. These developments have contributed to a diverse educational framework accommodating 3.8 million students, with a significant female representation of approximately 53%.
The Minister outlined Egypt's strategic vision to position itself as a premier educational hub in the Arab region, Africa, and the Middle East. This includes offering educational services in English and Arabic, as well as French programs to cater to Francophone regions. The Egyptian higher education system's internationalization strategy has attracted 130,000 international students from 119 countries, fostering numerous successful international collaborations.
During the meeting, both parties explored opportunities to enhance cooperation, including organizing meetings between Egyptian and Australian university leaders and virtual events with the Supreme Council of Universities. These initiatives aim to foster academic partnerships, research collaborations, and knowledge exchange in mutually beneficial areas.
The discussions also focused on strengthening ties in basic sciences, with Egypt planning to establish its first academy dedicated to mathematics and physics, aiming to produce distinguished specialists to advance national scientific and technological goals. The potential for interdisciplinary study programs was also considered.
Ambassador Axel Wabnehrst expressed Australia's appreciation for its strong educational ties with Egypt and highlighted Australia's role as a major provider of scholarships and its capacity to host Egyptian students and researchers. He praised the Egyptian education system for its human resources and emphasized Australia's eagerness to enhance academic and research collaborations with Egypt, recognizing its strategic position as a gateway to Africa.