D. Ayman Ashour: The challenges facing higher education in Africa require coordinated efforts in the areas of research, development and innovation
Share Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chairman of the Egyptian National Commission for UNESCO, at the 2024 UNESCO Forum on Higher Education in Africa, which is held under the title “The Engine for Achieving Sustainable Development.” In the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, from 10 to 12 December 2024; With the aim of exploring the transformative role of higher education in addressing the challenges of sustainable development, with the participation of ministers of education, scientific research and innovation from various African countries, a number of African Union officials, representatives of universities and educational bodies, along with experts in higher education and specialists in technical education and youth skills development, and a number of Representatives of the private sector, government agencies, and international organizations.
During his participation in the forum, the Minister stressed that the challenges facing higher education and scientific research in Africa require coordinated efforts in the areas of research, development, And innovation, academic exchange, graduate studies, and enhancing employability, noting that Egypt deals with the challenges of higher education through the national strategy for higher education and scientific research that was launched in March 2023 and is consistent with Vision 2030. The strategy aims to develop the educational and research system and support the diversity of educational institutions. University, and linking scientific research to the needs of the sustainable development plan, and it relies on 7 main principles: (integration, interdisciplinarity, communication, effective participation, sustainability, international reference, innovation and entrepreneurship), and he added that the strategy adopts Two basic approaches: understanding development activities in geographical regions in accordance with Vision 2030 and studying the impact of the economic dimension and employment opportunities, in addition to the concepts of the fourth generation of universities that focus on innovation, research, interdisciplinarity, and compatibility with the needs of the labor market; With the aim of bridging the gap between education programs and industry.
Dr. pointed out. Ayman Ashour referred to the measures taken to advance the research, development and innovation system, by enhancing internationalization through the Egyptian Knowledge Bank, attracting African students to Egypt, and enhancing cooperation with African institutions, and the focus is on interdisciplinary education. To meet the needs of the labor market, empower students to use digital tools, and support research and innovation through digital transformation, explaining that one of the most prominent activities that support research, development and innovation in higher education is the Egyptian Knowledge Bank, which is one of the largest knowledge banks in the world, as it includes 7,000 scientific periodicals, 250,000 e-books, 1,400,000 research theses, and in addition to organizing 1,000 annual career services activities, the bank also makes 28,000 digital resources available in several languages to students from Kindergarten through secondary school, and in the field of publishing support, the Knowledge Bank includes the Egyptian Journals Portal, which contains 1,007 Egyptian journals, 475 Arabic journals, and 532 English journals; Which contributes to enhancing scientific research and development.
The Minister pointed out the role played by the Egyptian Knowledge Bank in improving the classification of Egyptian universities and research institutions globally, as 15 universities were present in the QS global classification. In 2025, the number of universities in the QS classification for Arab countries increased to 36 universities in the 2024 classification instead of 15 universities in the 2016 classification, and the British Times classification for the year 2024 witnessed 2024 A boom in the number of universities after 46 universities were included in 2024, and the number of universities in the US News classification for the year 2023 reached 19 universities, while the number of universities in the Shanghai classification for the year 2023 reached 8 universities, compared to 5 universities in the 2016 classification, and the number of universities increased in Leiden ranks 13 universities in the 2023 rankings, The Minister also referred to the review of the Knowledge Bank’s experience at the “Digital Learning Week 2024” conference. In Paris, where it received appreciation from UNESCO and UNICEF as a beacon of educational innovation, the minister expressed his thanks to UNESCO for its continued support of the Egyptian Knowledge Bank, which is a national platform for digital learning that contributes to supporting more than 110 million people, noting that Egypt hosted a visit to study knowledge portals. In May 2024; Which demonstrated the role of the Egyptian Knowledge Bank as a model for sustainable and integrated digital learning systems. United African, an initiative that aims to work at the national, regional, and continental levels. This initiative seeks to create international job opportunities and exchange mobility between African youth and researchers at the beginning of their careers; Which contributes to strengthening scientific and educational cooperation on the continent, and this vision aims to adopt the path of the knowledge economy in Africa, and achieve sustainable progress in various fields.
Dr. stressed. Ayman Ashour The strong strategic partnerships that bring Egypt together with influential African and global entities, such as: the Network of African Academies of Science (NASAC), the Agence Universitaire Francophonie (AUF), and the National Council for Scientific Research (CSIR). These partnerships aim to enhance cooperation in the fields of research, development and innovation. (RDI); This reflects Egypt’s commitment to enhancing African cooperation and unleashing the potential of African talent throughout the continent, pointing to the coordination meeting with the Network of African Scientific Academies in Cairo last August, which witnessed discussions about its participation in the Egyptian Knowledge Bank. Egypt also received a delegation from the Southern African Development Community ( SADC) To discuss mechanisms for benefiting from the Egyptian Knowledge Bank; To enhance cooperation in higher education and scientific research.
The Minister indicated that 120,000 international students from 123 different countries are currently studying in Egypt, including 43,824 students from 39 African countries. The Egyptian government has also provided 857 scholarships within the aid program. The Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research launched the Egyptian Initiative for Scholarships and Educational Tourism for the academic year 2024/2025, including 570 scholarships for African countries. (EGYAID), which hosts students from African countries and all over the world, and these numbers reflect Egypt’s pivotal role in developing the next generation of African leaders, and reflect the confidence enjoyed by Egyptian higher education institutions.
Dr. stressed. Ayman Ashour said that the higher education strategy in Egypt focuses on qualifying graduates with the skills required for the labor market, including African students, noting that the World Economic Forum has identified the 15 best skills for the year 2025, such as analytical thinking and innovation, solving complex problems, critical thinking and creativity, leadership, and using… Technology, explaining that the strategy combines the academic aspect and professional skills. He also pointed out the important role played by employment and innovation centers in Egyptian universities to enhance connectivity with the labor market and provide opportunities for technical training and vocational guidance, noting that the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology in Egypt grants… Three awards annually for young African scientists in the fields of agricultural and food sciences, health and pharmaceutical sciences, and water, energy and environmental sciences, with the aim of honoring young researchers and promoting innovation on the African continent.
The Minister indicated that from 2019 until 2024, Egypt achieved distinguished results in the field of scientific research and publishing, recording 219,060 research papers and 152,425 research papers, with citations amounting to 2,394,708 according to the index. Scopus analysis of the results of the annual Global Innovation Index for the year 2024 showed that Egypt topped the continent of Africa in the number of scientific and technological clusters, as their number reached 11 clusters, representing 22% of the total clusters on the continent, and Egypt ranked 86th globally out of 133 countries according to the report issued. For the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) for the year 2024, Greater Cairo came in first place locally and first in Africa, then Alexandria came in second place locally. And fifth in Africa, then Mansoura in third place locally, seventh in Africa, then Zagazig in tenth place in Africa, then Banha Shebin El-Kom in 14th place in Africa, then Assiut in 15th place in Africa, then Tanta in 16th place in Africa, then Beni Suef in 23rd place in Africa, then Minya in 29th place in Africa. Then Kafr El-Sheikh ranked 31st in Africa, then Ismailia in 34th place in Africa. Greater Cairo was included among the top 100 scientific and technological clusters in the world for the first time, becoming the sole representative of the African continent and the Arab world.
