The Global University Foundation hosting the English branch of the University of Hertfordshire (UH) in Egypt held an "online" meeting with Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, the United Nations special envoy for sustainable development, and the first vice-president of the World Bank.
The meeting was moderated by Dalia Ashmawi, a professor at the University's Faculty of Information. It was attended by Dr. Omaima Hatem the Honorary President of the university, and Dr. Khaled Abdul Bari, Vice President of the University.
During the meeting, Mohieldin talked about the COVID-19 crisis that caused a state of stagnation in the global economy, stressing the need for economic safety, the availability of tracking, testing, the necessary isolation and treatment.
Mohieldin also talked about how health, production, and solutions to balance have affected them, and their impact on low growth rates and high unemployment rates.
Mohieldin explained that the number of unemployed has reached 195 million people around the world, according to the International Labor Organization. He noted that there is no country in the world that is not affected by the decline in income averages, and that overcoming the crisis would be achieved by joining together and contributing to the economy.
Mohieldin called for the rapid spread of health insurance at the level of neighborhoods and centers of the Republic, pointing out that the natural course for ending the crisis of Corona will be within 18 months, and that this crisis has caused a burden on countries and debt accumulation.
The UN envoy added that one of the contributions to support national income in facing the crisis is that there will be a decrease in the bank interest rate and a low oil price, pointing out that Egypt supports the transportation sector, taking into account the need for a reserve in anticipation of fluctuations in the oil and food market.
The UN envoy said: “The two most important crises facing countries are health and stagnation, while the rest of the crises can be contained, guided by the need to implement the goals of sustainable development to reduce poverty and malnutrition, which will be achieved with a good general budget.”
With regard to education in light of the Corona crisis, he said that there are 950 million students studying from home after the Coronavirus crisis. The UN envoy added: “The education system must be traditional and remote.”
As for universities, he explained through an example that there are 220 universities in Korea, including 43 national universities and 180 private universities, and that there must be 500 universities in Egypt and be deployed in all governorates.
He stressed in his speech that the university should not limit its role to education only, but must include the research side, noting that universities qualify for life, work and market needs, calling for focusing on two types of activities over the next 20 years, namely, artificial intelligence and nursing.
He added: “Modern education is also present in the Far East, such as China and Singapore. The state should intervene more in education through information technology blended education until the private sector recovers, as well as investment in professors and researchers, comprehensive health insurance and the restoration of old health facilities.”
He said: “Human investment takes place through technological training, and the state makes public investments, in other governorates, as well as cash support as a result of unemployment, must be invested.
With regard to the stock exchange, Mohieldin said that strengthening the stock exchange is done through several, including health discipline. “The reflection of the stock exchange depends on monetary policy, as there must be an improvement in foreign exchange reserves, pointing out that Egypt takes the arrangements for trade in the local currency, and is affected Negatively like any country, but Egypt can improve its position by investing in people and infrastructure.
Contributed by Ahmad El-Assasy
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