Egypt’s Higher Education Minister Discusses Enhancements in Technological University Programs

Dr. Abdelaziz Qansoua, Egypt’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, met with Dr. Mohamed Moussa Amara, Chairman of the Egyptian Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Technical and Vocational Education, known as “Itqan.” The meeting also included Dr. Ahmed El-Gioushi, Acting Head of the Education Sector and Secretary of the Boards of Technical Institutes and Technological Education, along with Dr. Ibrahim Faris, Deputy Chairman of the Authority for Technical and Vocational Education. The discussions focused on enhancing the quality of technical and technological education and developing institutional and program accreditation systems in line with national and international standards.

During the meeting, the Minister emphasized Egypt’s commitment to improving its technical and technological education systems as a key driver for economic and social development. He highlighted the importance of preparing qualified human resources capable of adapting to rapid changes in local, regional, and international job markets.

Qansoua noted that quality assurance and accreditation have evolved beyond mere organizational procedures or institutional requirements; they are now strategic tools for enhancing institutional performance, improving educational outcomes, and boosting the competitive edge of Egyptian educational institutions both regionally and internationally. He stated that nationally recognized accreditations serve as a vital gateway to expanding international academic partnerships and attracting programs that support educational development.

Dr. Qansoua commended the efforts of the Egyptian Authority for Quality Assurance in developing standards based on international benchmarks. He stressed the need to leverage its expertise in building a comprehensive national quality system within higher education institutions to support achieving objectives set by the National Strategy for Higher Education and Scientific Research.

Dr. Mohamed Moussa Amara presented an overview of the establishment of the Authority for Quality Assurance, its objectives, and its role in enhancing the education system. He highlighted significant achievements since its inception and outlined its international perspective on developing standards, indicators, and various accreditation programs at universities and institutes.

Amara explained that the Authority operates according to best practices aligned with international quality specifications and ISO standards while collaborating with international institutions and experts in training and capacity building to support efforts towards internationalizing education and enhancing global recognition of Egyptian educational outputs.

He asserted that quality assurance extends beyond merely fulfilling documentation requirements; it relies on applying international performance indicators to measure educational output quality against development needs and labor market demands. Amara noted that the Authority has successfully signed five cooperation protocols with various ministries and national entities to promote a culture of quality and improve evaluation and accreditation systems.

The meeting also discussed a proposal to establish a central unit for quality assurance within the Ministry of Higher Education, tasked with supporting universities, technical institutes, and higher engineering institutes while preparing a comprehensive plan for its organizational structure, responsibilities, and operational mechanisms. This proposed unit could train specialized personnel from universities on institutional accreditation requirements while organizing workshops with international experts to enhance educational system measurement efforts.

The Minister directed that this proposal be studied in coordination with relevant authorities to explore implementation strategies that would bolster institutional accreditation efforts while fostering a culture of quality within higher education institutions.

The meeting further reviewed the Authority’s initiatives supporting technical education institutions, monitoring accreditation processes, evaluating educational programs, promoting quality culture within educational institutions, as well as developing continuous monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. Both sides explored collaborative opportunities aimed at strengthening technological universities’ programs to align them with rapid labor market changes and modern technological advancements.