Egyptian education expands in Africa: Concrete steps enhance Cairo's social and political presence on the continent

Written by: Ayman Ragab

Egypt seeks to expand university education in the African continent, and its latest step was announced today with the approval of the Supreme Council of Universities to establish a branch of Cairo University in the State of Eritrea, with the necessary legal procedures being taken in this regard.

Linking Egyptian universities with their African counterparts

This step comes to complete a path that began decades ago, but has been strengthened during the recent period.

In 2022, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, the Minister of Higher Education at the time, announced that the ministry was seeking to link Egyptian universities with their African counterparts by establishing new branches of Egyptian universities there.

There are already Egyptian government universities located in Sudan, South Sudan and Chad, as well as the rehabilitation of some old branches.

Abdel Ghaffar also revealed in 2021 that the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research had allocated 100 million pounds to rehabilitate and operate the Cairo University branch in Khartoum.

This came in conjunction with work to improve the efficiency of Alexandria University's branches in South Sudan and Chad.

Inauguration of a branch of Ain Shams University in Tanzania

A branch of Ain Shams University was also inaugurated in Tanzania, as a result of the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Tanzanian Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, during the visit of the President of the Republic of Tanzania to Egypt, in which Article 11 stipulated the opening of Egyptian universities in the Republic of Tanzania, dated November 2021.

Two days ago, Dr. Abdel Aziz Qansouh said, during his speech at the Egyptian state’s celebration of the sixty-third Africa Day at Cairo University, that Egypt is following the path laid out by the founding fathers, and the state seeks to enhance interest in the African depth, resolve conflicts, and defend African solutions to problems.

Egypt is considering establishing three new universities.

The Minister of Higher Education added that Africa's future will only be guaranteed by investing in the African people, as this is the way to achieve sustainable development.

In this context, the Ministry of Higher Education, with its African students studying at the Chad branch universities and another branch under construction in South Sudan, is currently studying the establishment of 3 other branches in African countries, in addition to expanding the Chad branch to include other programs and joint degrees in cooperation with French universities.