Egypt to set up more national unis as gov’t works to enhance higher education access: The Madbouly government is ramping up its efforts to set up more national universities in response to growing demand and shifting market dynamics. The Higher Education Ministry is planning to add eight new national universities to the current roster of 20, aiming to meet the increasing demand for affordable, high-quality education, ministry spokesperson Adel Abdel Ghaffar told EnterpriseAM.

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Where will we see these new universities? The eight new universities set to open next year include campuses in Cairo, Kafr El Sheikh, Sohag, and New Valley.

National universities at a glance: Some 55k students enrolled in national universities during the current academic year, representing a 34% y-o-y increase. National universities across Egypt offer 410 programs across 200 faculties, covering fields such as medicine, engineering, and humanities.

SOUND SMART: While both state and national universities are public universities operating under the supervision of the Supreme Council of Universities, state universities typically have higher admission thresholds and larger student bodies, while national universities offer smaller class sizes and more modern curricula. National universities also tend to have higher tuition fees and pricier accommodation compared to the more affordable, traditional housing at state universities.

In line with market needs: National universities continue to reduce the gap between public and private universities by offering modern systems and labor-market-focused programs. Many programs are designed in collaboration with industry to prepare graduates for the workforce. For example, Helwan National University offers 22 specialized programs, including medicine, pharmacy, and digital transformation, and serves 10k students, according to Helwan University president Sayed Kandil.

Why are students flocking to national universities? National universities have become an attractive option due to their lower entry requirements — 5% below public universities — and mid-range tuition fees that fall between public and private universities. These institutions also offer credit-hour systems, operating on a two-semester model. They maintain close ties to established public universities and offer programs of similar qualities, which enhances their credibility among students and parents, President of the Egyptian E-Learning Universities Hisham Abdelsalam told EnterpriseAM.

Looking to international players: National universities are following private institutions in establishing collaborations with international universities. Institutions like Galala University and King Salman University offer dual degrees through agreements with global players such as Arizona State University and the University of Louisville.

The private sector could play a bigger role: To enhance investment, the government is exploring private sector participation in establishing and managing national universities. According to a government source, legal frameworks now allow private entities to enter the sector under similar regulations, including tuition caps and admission policies.

Challenges remain: While the expansion has been significant, challenges like achieving international accreditation, addressing high living costs for students, and bridging rural-urban disparities in access persist.

REMEMBER- National universities recently underwent some changes after the cabinetapproved draft amendments to the law governing private and national universities that introduce the foundation year system. The amendments allow high school students who wish to enter a specific college without meeting admissions criteria to join a foundation year beginning academic year 2024-25.

DIG DEEPER- We took a look at how the education sector is preparing for the foundation year system in a Blackboard published earlier this year.

Looking ahead: The government’s long-term strategy sees more private sector involvement in the establishment and management of national universities, with plans to introduce incentives to encourage investment in underserved areas.

Your top education stories for the week:

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  • The Egyptian Trade Union Federation launched an initiative to qualify 1 mn workers to work inF the digital economy. The initiative will offer workshops aimed at equipping workers with the digital skills to address labor market challenges.(Statement)
  • FSI, IEB offer master’s degree in financial markets: The Financial Regulatory Authority’s Financial Services Institute has partnered with Spain’s Institute of Stock Market Studies (IEB) to offer a master's degree in financial markets. The program aims to equip students with advanced knowledge of global financial practices. (Statement)
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