British Council Egypt Expands Capacity Building Partnerships to Strengthen Education, Leadership, Youth Skills Development

The British Council Egypt is accelerating its investment in capacity building across Egypt’s education, youth, and creative sectors through a growing portfolio of partnerships and initiatives. From teacher training and university leadership development to curriculum reform and youth empowerment, the British Council’s work is equipping individuals and institutions with the skills, tools, and confidence to shape a more inclusive and prosperous future.

This follows recent high-level meetings between Egypt’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Mohamed Ayman Ashour, and a senior delegation from Advance HE and the British Council. 

Discussions focused on strengthening academic leadership, governance, and the professional development of university staff, in alignment with Egypt’s Vision 2030.

In the school education sector, the British Council continues to build the capacity of teachers through the Teacher Excellence Award (TEA) programme, developed in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Technical Education. In Gharbia Governorate alone, 21 English teachers were recently honoured for completing Level 1 of the programme, equipping them with modern, learner-centred teaching strategies. 

As part of our broader collaboration with the Ministry, we also supported efforts to promote inclusive education through a nationwide Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) campaign. Aligned with Egypt’s Vision 2030, the campaign aimed to raise awareness, foster greater societal integration for students with diverse learning needs, and encourage more inclusive attitudes within schools.

The British Council also plays a leading role in national curriculum reform, working with UNICEF to co-develop a new English Curriculum Framework for Grades 10 to 12. This reform aims to embed 21st-century skills and align learning outcomes with the needs of the labour market, ensuring that young people are better prepared for higher education and employment.

Beyond the classroom, the Council’s capacity-building agenda extends to Egypt’s creative and youth sectors. Through the Creative Makersprogramme in Upper Egypt, young creatives are receiving training in design thinking, business development, and entrepreneurship.

Meanwhile, initiatives such as Digital Innovation Programme 2024, delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and GIZ, are empowering young women, men and people with disabilities in civil society, services, infrastructure and programmes provided by the state.

The British Council is also deepening local engagement with government partners. In a recent meeting, the Vice Governor of Giza, Hind Abdelhalim, and British Council Country Director Mark Howard discussed opportunities for collaboration in public service and community development in Agouza.

Speaking on the breadth of the Council’s capacity-building work, Mark Howard said:
"Capacity building is at the heart of everything we do in Egypt. From teacher development and university leadership to youth skills and creative entrepreneurship, we’re proud to work alongside Egyptian institutions to create meaningful, long-term change. 

Together, we are unlocking the potential of Egypt’s people and building the foundations for a more inclusive, skilled, and connected future."

These efforts are part of the British Council’s wider mission to foster connections, understanding, and trust between the people of the UK and Egypt through education, culture, and shared values, contributing to sustainable development and national progress.