University of Canada Holds Its First Board Meeting

By: Ibrahim Eldeeb and Norhan Mahmoud

CAIRO, Feb. 25 (SEE)- The Board of Trustees of the University of Canada-Egypt held its first meeting on Sunday at its headquarters in the new administrative capital. It was attended by Dr. Khalid Abdel-Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Debbie McClellan, President of the University and Canada’s Ambassador to Egypt Jess Daton.

“We promised everyone that within one year we will complete the university and this have already been implemented. In fact, 26% of the first batch of students for the current year 2018/2019 are non-Egyptians,” said Dr. Magdi Al-Qadi, Chairman of Canwell Group that aims at bringing Canadian education to Egypt and the Middle East through its partnerships.

During the press conference organized on the sidelines of the first session of the council, Al-Qadi recalled that the first time the minister visited the university in July 2017 when the land was a barren desert. A year later, Abdel-Ghaffar came back to inaugurate the campus.

"2019 will witness the commencing of new universities within the campus compound alongside Prince Edward Canadian University. Also, new programs will be introduced inpidually,” announced Al-Qadi.

On his part, Abdel-Ghaffar praised the commitment and efforts of everyone who contributed to bring this edifice to light, noting that Egypt-Canada University is a promise all abided to. “I saw this project as a dream for the Egyptian society. The presence of a branch of a foreign university in Egypt raises the efficiency of education and is an alternative for Egyptian students to study inside the country.”

The minister stressed that what is currently being taught at the University of Canada - Egypt is totally compatible with what Egypt needs in its vision of the future. "A university is not only a place to receive knowledge, rather an institution that shapes the human conscience.”

He pointed out that a latter extensive research concluded that information systems is essential for the future of Egypt and the whole world.

Recently, the Supreme Council of Universities approved the launching of new faculties specializing in information systems as there are only 15 colleges in 26 public universities in Egypt specialized in this field.

The conference was also attended by Maj. Gen. Kamel Al Wazir, Chairman of the Armed Forces Engineering Corps, who pointed out to the vitality of licensing colleges with graduates who could instantly impact the progress of Egypt’s economy. “ I wish that advanced colleges of agriculture would be established so that students could address water scarcity and innovate techniques for planting with little or salty water. We also need more colleges with programs in mining, petroleum and medicine.”

Al Wazir thanked Abdel-Ghaffar for breaking all the restrictions and routine that once hindered projects. “The Ministry of Higher Education currently operates at a high pace in reviewing programs, carrying out procedures and issuing licenses.”