Educational Equity and Innovation: Unlocking the Potential of Egypt’s National Universities
Updated 8/27/2024 8:00:00 AM
Egypt's higher education landscape, like that of many developing nations, faces the challenge of ensuring equitable access and opportunities for students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
Despite funding challenges, national universities can be pillars of academic excellence and societal development, playing a pivotal role in diversifying the Egyptian higher education system and shaping its future.
National Universities: Promoting Educational Equity in Egypt
The higher education system in Egypt is comprised of public governmental universities, such as Cairo University, national universities like Galala University, and private and international universities.
The country has 12 national universities emanating from public universities and eight international and private national universities, according to the Ministry of Higher Education. To some extent, national universities provide equal opportunities for students from different socioeconomic backgrounds.
Dina Samir ElWakkad, an economics instructor and economist, underscores the importance of these institutions to Arab Finance: “National universities in Egypt are crucial in providing access to higher education for students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.”
“By offering affordable tuition fees and a wide geographic distribution of campuses, these institutions help ensure that talented students from low-income families can pursue university education,” she adds.
The presence of private and national universities alleviates the pressure on public universities, representing a necessity to meet the increasing demand for higher education in Egypt, Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, noted during the Private Universities Council's meeting last March.
Bridging the Gap: Fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship
In the 2022/2023 academic year, 296,868 students were enrolled in national and private universities. Meanwhile, public universities and Al-Azhar University had around 3.76 million enrolled, according to a report by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).
Accordingly, national and private universities accounted for around 7.3% of the total enrolled students across Egypt. National universities provide accessible higher education and ensure diversity in the Egyptian higher education system.
Ahmed Fawzy Hussein, a Ph.D. holder and an assistant professor of economics, tells Arab Finance: “National universities in Egypt have significantly contributed to diversifying the higher education landscape.”
“The government has been establishing non-profit universities focusing on modern disciplines that align with labor market demands. These new institutions, often called ‘fourth-generation universities,’ emphasize fields like artificial intelligence (AI), engineering, and cybersecurity, catering to both local and international job markets,” Hussein notes.
For her part, ElWakkad points out that this accessibility promotes social mobility and creates more equitable opportunities, especially compared to the private university sector, which can be out of reach for many Egyptian families.
National universities can bridge the education gap and foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. ElWakkad highlights this pivotal role of national universities, saying, “By establishing technology transfer offices, incubators, and accelerator programs, these institutions can help translate academic research into commercial applications and support the growth of new ventures.”
“Encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration, providing access to state-of-the-art facilities, and offering entrepreneurship education can also cultivate an innovative mindset among students,” she adds.
National Universities as Catalysts for Higher Education Reform
Strengthening national universities and de-crowding public universities in Egypt is essential for enhancing higher education and eventually driving economic growth and development.
“Reducing student populations in public universities can improve educational quality by allowing smaller class sizes and better student-teacher interactions. This can also alleviate the pressure on university resources, enabling more targeted investments in research and infrastructure,” Hussein explains.
However, Hussein believes that this approach poses significant challenges, particularly in terms of access to education for students from lower-income backgrounds.
Moreover, national universities can play a role in decreasing the unemployment rate. “In terms of the employment market, national universities are a crucial supplier of skilled graduates across a range of disciplines. As the largest providers of higher education in Egypt, they help meet the demand for qualified professionals in both the public and private sectors,” ElWakkad states.
National universities also play a vital role in decentralizing education, bringing quality learning opportunities to regions that were previously underserved. This decentralization is a key component of a broader strategy aimed at ensuring that Egypt's educational offerings align with the diverse needs of its growing population and evolving economy, according to Hussein.
Overcoming Challenges: Unlocking National Universities’ Potential
Yet, national universities in Egypt face a number of challenges, particularly underfunding. “Underfunding and misallocation of resources in Egypt's national universities can lead to deteriorating infrastructure, lower educational standards, and reduced research output,” as per Hussein.
“These issues hamper the country’s competitiveness and ability to innovate. The economic impact is further compounded by the brain drain, as talented individuals seek opportunities abroad due to insufficient resources at home,” Hussein points out.
However, with the needed funding, national universities have the potential to drive a progressive future. “The Egyptian government has been focusing on increasing investment in higher education, with a particular emphasis on public-private partnerships,” Hussein notes.
“The government has also initiated strategic projects such as the development of technological universities and the Egyptian Genome project, which are aimed at enhancing research capabilities and aligning educational outcomes with market needs,” as per Hussein.
Additionally, national universities can further polish future generations’ skills to equip them for market competition.
“To better equip students for success in the startup ecosystem, universities in Egypt should focus on developing a range of skills beyond just technical expertise. This includes strengthening problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, and teamwork capabilities through project-based learning, case studies, and hands-on experiences,” ElWakkad explains.
Egypt's national universities offer a beacon of hope in a higher education landscape seeking to balance accessibility and quality. Despite facing funding challenges, these institutions play a crucial role in promoting educational equity, diversifying the higher education system, and fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
By providing affordable tuition, accessible campuses, and a wide range of academic programs, national universities ensure that talented students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds can pursue higher education.
By Sarah Samir
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