Gov’t wants more international unis to set up shop here: The government is ramping up efforts to push prestigious international universities to set up branches in the new capital, in line with directives to diversify Egypt’s higher education landscape.

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Why it matters: Internationalizing education not only boosts foreign investment in the sector, but also raises academic standards and positions Egypt as a hub for educational tourism, one government source told EnterpriseAM. Offering foreign education locally allows students to access the same high-quality academic standards abroad without leaving the country, the source added.

Remember: The Higher Education Ministry plans to expand collaboration with top international institutions, fostering cross-border education and positioning Egypt as a regional hub for transnational higher education.

Incoming and outgoing: The Madbouly government is also pushing for opening branches of Egyptian universities abroad through partnerships with the private sector, as part of the wider education internationalization plan.

As things stand: Egypt currently hosts nine international university branches, with plans to add more in the coming years, according to Higher Education Minister Ayman Ashour. These branches have attracted international students from neighboring countries, leveraging Egypt’s unique position as an attractive education hub in the region.

What are the nine international university branches Egypt hosts?

  • The Global Foundation hosts the UK’s University of Hertfordshire;
  • European Universities in Egypt hosts the UK’s University of London and University of Central Lancashire;
  • The Knowledge Hub (TKH) is home to the UK’s Coventry University and Portugal’s Nova University.
  • Modern Group University Foundation hosts the Russian Kazan Federal University and St Petersburg University.

That’s not all: Egypt’s educational institutions have diverse international partnerships — there’s the Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology, a branch of ESLSCA, the German International University, and a branch of Beirut Arab University.

Want to dive deeper? We dive into what do foreign universities see in the Egyptian market and what challenges are they facing in a Blackboard published last year.

A changing mindset: Shifting from a local to a global outlook is now a key goal for Egypt’s higher education sector, the minister said, adding that expanding foreign university branches is integral to making Egypt a global competitor in the higher education sphere.

The past decade has seen significant progress: The ministry has achieved various milestones in education internationalization over the past ten years, supporting the completion of international university branches in the new capital, Ashour said. Throughout the past year, the Higher Education Ministry intensified efforts to attract more globally-ranked universities across various specializations.

The government wants to see 200k international students enrolled in Egyptian universities in 2030, a move which will help it reach its goal of attracting USD 2 bn in education tourism revenues by then.

A new regulatory framework is in the works: The ministry has also secured cabinet approval for legislation governing international university branches, helping students obtain degrees from parent universities while facilitating the expansion of major foreign university branches in the new capital.

Efforts to bring more international universities to Egypt: Ashour has met withrepresentatives from several prestigious institutions, including the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh, Portugal’s University of Aveiro, the UK’s University of Essex, University of Aberdeen, University of Central Lancashire, and the University of Exeter exploring possibilities for establishing branches in Egypt, developing joint academic programs, and exchanging expertise to enhance Egypt’s education, academic, and research ecosystem.

To sweeten the pot: The Higher Education Ministry last May announced its plan to implement a foundation year system as an optional program to qualify high school graduates or those with a degree equivalent to a high school diploma for enrollment in various faculties and academic programs at private and national universities. The move could push more international universities to set up shop in Egypt.

READ MORE- We dove into the ins and outs of the new system in a Blackboard published last year.

We can already see the impact international unis have had on their grads: The presence of international universities in Egypt is enhancing graduates’ competitiveness thanks to their access to modern knowledge and contemporary education systems, according to ministry spokesperson Adel Abdel Ghaffar.

Incentives for investors: The Higher Education Ministry is working on measures that make higher education investments more attractive — providing the necessary infrastructure and offering attractive incentives.

The expansion continues: The ministry aims to continue its efforts to establish new universities, particularly branches of prestigious foreign institutions, to increase capacity and provide education that meets international standards. This expansion agenda focuses on ensuring fair geographical distribution of educational institutions across the country, universities being equipped with modern infrastructure, and the offering of diverse academic programs that align with labor market needs.

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