Abdel Ghaffar: American-Egyptian universities to cooperate in a joint project

CAIRO, JUNE 17 (SEE) Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research met on Monday with a delegation from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to finance an educational and scientific project in the Egyptian universities.

Abdel Ghaffar said, the project will include the establishment of three centers of excellence in Egyptian universities in the fields of agriculture, water and energy, at an estimated cost of  $90 million(EGP 1.6 billion), EGP 540 million for each center.

The aim of the project is obtaining high quality applied research, access to patents, innovation in education and curriculum development at universities, exchange of knowledge and research, training university and graduate students through scholarships and exchange programs. The project will also work as a consulting body addressing problems of civil society and industry, as well as increasing scientific publication in  scientific journals and applying research and innovation in related fields.

For their part, the U.S delegation reviewed the objectives of the project and evaluation criteria, and the future vision of joint cooperation between Egyptian and American universities. The delegation also stressed the keenness of their country to promote and encourage bilateral cooperation with the Egyptian side during the coming period and their readiness to provide all necessary support to the Egyptian universities in the fields of higher education and scientific research.

Egypt is keen to support the educational and research cooperation with the U.S, as well as the development of partnership between both sides in the scientific field.