Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, chaired the meeting of the Council of Private Universities, in the presence of Dr. Abd-el-Wahab Ezzat, Secretary of the Council of Private Universities, Dr. Maher Mesbah, Secretary of the Council of Private Universities, the council members, and a number of the Ministry’s leaders, at the headquarters of the Egyptian Russian University.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Minister thanked the Egyptian Russian University (ERU) members, headed by Dr. Mohamed Kamal Al-Sayed Mostafa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the ERU, and Dr. Sherif Fakhry, President of the University, for hosting the meeting of the Council of Private Universities.
Dr. Ayman Ashour appreciated the great care and support provided by the political leadership to the universities, pointing out that the private universities possess a great deal of academic and research expertise and human resources that can be used to develop society and to support development projects in various economic, social, health and environmental areas, in addition to providing modern educational programmes, which go in line with the requirements of the local, regional, and international labor markets. Dr. Ayman also highlighted the necessity of achieving integration within the Egyptian higher education system and expanding international partnerships in order to improve the level of the provided educational service.
The Minister stressed that the state encourages investment in the field of higher education, noting that there are currently 32 private universities, and that there are a number of universities that have obtained republican resolutions and are awaiting decisions to start education in them.
Dr. Ayman Ashour affirmed the importance of the role of universities in good marketing of their study programs at the Arab and African levels in order to attract large numbers of international students to study at Egyptian universities, which can be achieved through cooperation with Egyptian offices and cultural centers abroad.
The Minister pointed out the importance of the role of private universities in providing distinguished education, underlining that private universities represent an important branch of the higher education system in Egypt. They also help relieve pressure on public universities. Thus, their presence represents a necessity to meet the increasing demand for university education. He also highlighted the ministry’s interest in private universities and in enhancing their role in achieving sustainable development goals in accordance with Egypt’s Vision 2030.
Dr. Ayman Ashour stressed the importance of private universities in upgrading the higher education system and its activities: the student, research and academic activities that are carried out in accordance with the national strategy for higher education and scientific research for the benefit of the society. The private universities, in addition, help us discover the skills and talents which the students possess in the various fields of students’ scientific and research activities.
The Minister also affirmed the importance of the great role performed by university hospitals in providing continuous community services to citizens in the field of health. He pointed out that the number of university hospitals in private universities will increase by the end of next year to 9 hospitals with a capacity of 1,900 beds, which serves the Egyptian citizen and achieves quality standards in the field of health care. He also stated that the demand for Egyptian university hospitals has recently increased by 30%.
In the same vein, Dr. Abd-el-Wahab Ezzat, Secretary of the Council of Private Universities, explained that the Council agreed to reopen the transference for Egyptian students who have returned from Sudanese, Russian, and Ukrainian universities, and failed to apply in the previous semester. This is in order to enable them to complete their studies in private Egyptian universities with the same previous rules in effect for students enrolled in these universities until May 8, 2023. This is to take effect during the month of August 2024.
For his part, Dr. Adel Abd-el-Ghaffar, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Higher Education, stated that the Council reviewed the report of the Committee for Establishing Private Universities, where the Council approved the establishment of the Faculty of Medicine at Al-Hayat University.
The Council approved the establishment of a private university called “Ro’ya University for Science and Technology” in Beni Suef Governorate, which includes the following faculties: Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine – Faculty of Engineering and Technology – Faculty of Computer Technology and Artificial Intelligence.
The Council also approved the establishment of the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, and the Faculty of Nursing at the Egyptian Chinese University.
In addition, the Council approved the establishment of a private university called “Namaa University for Science and Technology” in Sohag Governorate, which includes the following Faculties: Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Faculty of Computers and Artificial Intelligence, and Faculty of Oral Surgery and Dental Medicine.
The Council also approved the establishment of a private university called “Heliopolis University” in 6th of October City, which includes the following Faculties: Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Computers and Artificial Intelligence, and Faculty of Management Sciences.
The Council, in addition, approved the establishment of two faculties: Faculty of Human Medicine and Faculty of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence at Derayah University.
The Council also approved changing the name of the Faculty of Fine Arts at New Giza University to be the Faculty of Arts and Designing.
Mr. Mohamed Ghanem, Head of the Central Administration of the Councils’ Secretariat, stated that the Council was informed of the report of the committee formed to develop mechanisms for implementing the training year at the faculties of pharmacy, whereas training units will start to be established within the faculties to serve as a communication link with the Supreme Council for University Hospitals.
During the meeting, a video was shown about the Egyptian Russian University, which was established in 2006, and which includes the Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, Faculty of Management, Economics & Professional Technology, Faculty of Fine Arts, Faculty of Applied Arts, Faculty of Artificial Intelligence and the Faculty of Al-Alsun & Technical Languages . The university, in addition, pays remarkable attention to community service by supporting the future of health and the care system.