Egypt`s Universities to Become Smart Institutions in 2 Years

Egypt`s Universities to Become Smart Institutions in 2 Years

Dr. Khalid Abdul Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, participated in the activities of the Technical Innovation Forum in Education in the Middle East and North Africa 2019 (MENA), currently held in the Sultanate of Oman from 15-17 September.

During his participation in a discussion session entitled (Leadership of Innovation and Higher Education), the minister reviewed the vision of the Ministry of Higher Education in Egypt towards the transformation of Egyptian universities into smart institutions within two years.

He pointed out that it requires the development of the current information infrastructure in universities, which is currently achieved through the modernization of university data centers, the establishment of test centers, raising the speed of the internet, and connect all colleges and institutions of universities with fiber-optic lines.

He stressed the importance of smart universities that make the educational process more effective by providing a rich learning environment that enables students to engage and communicate with each other and with faculty members. This will contribute to encouraging students to use knowledge for innovation and not only receive it.

In his speech, the minister pointed to the launch of the application "Study in Egypt" on the smartphone, which includes the data of all institutions of higher education in Egypt recognized by the Ministry of Higher Education.

Abdul Ghaffar explained that the application aims to support communication between the parties of the educational process, especially in the transitional phase of Secondary to university level to help students and parents in the knowledge of the educational bodies and the different specialties and distinctive programs available in the university education that can be enrolled. This comes within the framework of the use of information technology technologies to find innovative ways to attract expatriates to Study in Egypt.

At the end of his speech, Abdul Ghaffar announced the National Plan for Artificial Intelligence in Egypt, which aims to develop and use smart technologies in the education sectors in particular and the state sectors in general, within the framework of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of Higher Education of the Sultanate of Oman, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Communication and Information Technologies in Mauritania, the Minister of Higher Education in Morocco, and the Director General of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization.