The British University in Egypt has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Azur Hospitality, in a ceremony presided over by Professor Mohamed Loutfi MBE, President and Vice-Chancellor, and attended by Mr. Adham Garranah, Chief Executive Officer of Azur Hospitality. The agreement aims to foster collaboration in the areas of education, training, and professional development within the tourism and hospitality sector.
The MOU was signed by Professor Wadouda Badran, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Social Science Cluster at The British University in Egypt, and Mr. Ayman Madkour, Regional Head of People and Culture at Azur Hospitality.
The partnership is designed to leverage academic programmes and research in support of tourism and hospitality development objectives, facilitate the exchange of professional and practical expertise, and support the organisation of joint conferences and events that contribute to workforce development and raise professional standards in line with the latest international benchmarks.
Under the terms of the agreement, hotels and resorts operated by Azur Hospitality will host students from the University’s new Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management, with particular focus on students in the departments of Hotel Management and Events and Conference Management. Students will rotate through the core operational departments of Azur Hospitality’s properties — including Food and Beverage, Front Office, Marketing, and Sales — gaining structured, hands-on exposure to every facet of hotel operations. For placements at properties outside Greater Cairo, students will be accommodated on-site in Azur’s staff quarters, allowing full immersion in the professional environment. Students who complete their training placements will receive accredited certificates of completion, further strengthening their professional profiles and readiness for both local and international employment. The partnership further commits The British University in Egypt to delivering tailored training and professional development programmes for Azur Hospitality’s own corporate teams through the University’s School of Continuing Education, covering managerial, technical, and language disciplines in accordance with the Group’s operational requirements.
Professor Loutfi affirmed that the University places the cultivation of strategic partnerships with leading organisations across key sectors at the heart of its institutional priorities. He noted that the collaboration with Azur Hospitality represents a significant step towards bridging academic study with hands-on professional application for students of the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management, the University's most recent addition, with a direct and meaningful impact on the development of their skills and their readiness to meet the demands of the modern labour market.
“The tourism and hospitality sector is among the most vital contributors to Egypt’s national economy, and that this drives the University’s commitment to preparing graduates who are capable of competing regionally and internationally,” highlighted Professor Loutfi. “This is achieved through an integrated educational and training environment that combines academic rigour with practical experience, in direct support of Egypt’s broader tourism and hospitality development plans.” He also noted that the partnership extends to the University campus itself, with Azur Hospitality’s departmental managers and senior trainers contributing directly to practical training sessions at the University — ensuring that students benefit from industry expertise both in the field and in the classroom.
“The partnership with The British University in Egypt reflects the Group's firm commitment to investing in young talent and preparing a new generation of hospitality professionals prepared to keep pace with the rapidly evolving demands of the sector,” said Mr. Garranah. He noted that building effective partnerships between academia and the hospitality industry is fundamental to the long-term development and competitiveness of the field.
Mr. Garranah added that Azur Hospitality has always believed in the value of bridging academic knowledge with real-world operational practice, and that this partnership will give students the opportunity to develop hands-on experience within a professional environment, to the highest international standards of hotel management and operations. “This collaboration forms part of the Group's broader vision to support the future of Egypt's hospitality sector and to contribute to its sustainable growth and human capital development.”
About The British University in Egypt (https://www.bue.edu.eg/)
Following a 1998 Memorandum of Cooperation between the governments of Egypt and the United Kingdom, The British University in Egypt was founded in 2004, and is Egypt's premier private British university. Recognised for its educational excellence, robust academic governance, and exceptional graduate employment, it is one of the few Egyptian Higher Education institutions to offer ‘dual degrees’, where students undertake undergraduate and postgraduate awards validated by Egypt’s Supreme Council of Universities and one of our UK collaborative partners, Manchester Metropolitan University, London South Bank University, and Queen Margaret University.
The University is the first QAA-accredited university in Egypt and North Africa, demonstrating achievement of the 10 European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance, and is a signatory of the Magna Charta Universitatum (Great Charter of Universities), upholding the principles of academic freedom, institutional autonomy, community service, preservation of humanity and sustainability, and the promotion of prosperity and enlightenment across the globe.
With 12 faculties, expanding to 13 in September 2026 with the launch of the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management, and a student body of nearly 12,500, The British University in Egypt is known for its 'learning by doing' approach, commitment to regional and global sustainable development goals, and unparalleled student life experience.
About Azur Hospitality (https://www.azurhospitality.com/)
Founded in 1997, Azur Hospitality is one of Egypt’s leading hospitality management companies, recognized for pioneering the all-inclusive concept in the Egyptian market and for nearly three decades of operational excellence, innovation, and strategic growth.
With a diversified portfolio exceeding 3,000 operational keys across Egypt’s premier tourism, leisure, and urban destinations, Azur Hospitality continues to shape the hospitality landscape through performance-driven management, market-responsive expansion, and guest-centric experiences.
The company’s portfolio is anchored by two distinctive sub-brands: Azur Hotels & Resorts, its flagship lifestyle hospitality platform featuring 10 strategically located properties across the Red Sea and Mediterranean destinations of Hurghada, Berenice, New Damietta, New Alamein, and Ras El Hekma; and Urban Zen By Azur, its upscale branded serviced apartments platform with landmark properties in prime Giza locations, including Urban Zen Giza Plateau and Urban Zen Menorca Zayed.
Supported by a robust development pipeline of additional properties, Azur Hospitality remains committed to expanding its footprint across Egypt and the Middle East while delivering customized hospitality solutions that blend local culture, modern lifestyle, operational excellence, and commercial performance.
Through its integrated approach, Azur Hospitality creates sustainable value for investors, dynamic career environments for its teams, and memorable lifestyle and upscale experiences for guests.
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