DAAD Regional Office Cairo Hosts DIES Workshop on Developing Transnational Education

The DAAD Regional Office Cairo successfully held its two-day DIES Capacity Building Workshop “Developing Transnational Education: Guidelines and Frameworks of Bi-National and Joint Degrees” on 7–8 December 2025 at the Steigenberger El Tahrir Hotel in Cairo.

22 representatives of the management of 12 public Egyptian universities participated in the workshop. After welcoming remarks by representatives of DAAD, German Embassy and NAQAAE, the first day focused on in-depth knowledge on transnational education, accreditation processes, and legal frameworks. On the second day, participants actively engaged in discussions on practical application.

The workshop highlighted the Egyptian government’s strategic priority to promote the internationalization and quality assurance of Egyptian universities, in line with the Egypt Vision 2030. Participants were encouraged to apply the knowledge and insights gained to strengthen international cooperation, improve academic standards, and foster global visibility at their own local institutions.

The event was organized under the Dialogue on Innovative Higher Education Strategies (DIES) program, jointly developed by the DAAD and the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK), and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Dr Youhansen Y. Eid, Vice Executive President of Zewail City of Science, Technology and Innovation, former president of the NAQAAE and distinguished expert on the topic led the workshop that was enriched by two further experts from Germany. Ms Karen Schlüter, Head of Finance and Controlling at Helmholtz Association, highlighted the legal aspects, and Mr. Henning Schäfer, managing director of the Central Agency of Evaluation and Accreditation in Hanover pointed out the criteria and processes for international accreditation. The experts’ contributions guided participants through models of transnational education, accreditation criteria and legal frameworks. The program combined presentations with interactive exercises, discussions, and group work, allowing participants to leverage the concepts learned in practical scenarios. On the second day Ms Suzan Scheffens a business consultant and trainer at the DAAD Kairo Academy (DKA) rounded the programme up with negotiation and communication concepts in the international context.

Through this workshop, the DAAD Regional Office Cairo continues to support the capacity building, internationalization, and quality assurance efforts of Egyptian higher education institutions, fostering sustainable academic partnerships between Egypt and Germany.