President Emmanuel Macron travelled to Egypt earlier this month – the visit building on the landmark of the higher education framework agreement signed by the two countries last July.
The agreement outlined their joined efforts to offer dual degrees in 15 scientific disciplines and established a scholarship program enabling 100 Egyptian PhD candidates to pursue advanced studies in France between 2025 and 2028.
Following up on last year’s objectives, efforts for the higher education sectors grew stronger, forging more partnerships and Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) between top institutions in the two countries.
A total of nine MoUs were signed between the Université Française d’Égypte (UFE) and prestigious French universities, covering degrees in business management, engineering, linguistics, and political sciences.
According to an article by Al Fajr, UFE president Mohamed Rochdi claimed that the institution is the only Egyptian University that grants French degrees accredited by the French Ministry of Higher Education without the need to travel to France, giving students a significant competitive advantage in the local and international job market.
He highlighted that the MoUs will help to deepen the existing collaboration between the two nations. “Some of them strengthen existing programs, while others launch new ones. All the agreements aim to transfer French expertise to Egypt,” he said.
Meanwhile, five agreements were reached by French universities, including Lyon 3, Cergy, Littoral, Poitiers, and Aix Marseille, facilitating the exchange of students, academic staff, and administrative personnel.
By embracing international cooperation, Egypt can cultivate a dynamic, future-ready education system that drives innovation and long-term socioeconomic growth
Hossan Rashad, ESLSCA University
In the K-12 sector, the Egyptian government, in collaboration with the French government, has announced plans to open 100 new francophone schools in the country.
Although Egypt’s international educational landscape is dominated by the British curriculum, France plans to boost its efforts by launching programs like the Trefle Project, which aims to improve French curricula and raise the professional level of French teachers in Egypt.
As for AI and technology, Hossam Rashad, senior director of information management at ESLSCA University, stated that partnerships with France and other European nations are pivotal to fostering student mobility, academic exchange, and the transfer of global best practices.
“The visit underscored the immense value of cross-cultural dialogue in advancing Egypt’s higher education sector,” he said.
“Such alliances not only elevate Egypt’s academic standards but also strengthen its global competitiveness, ensuring our students and institutions are equipped to thrive in an interconnected world. By embracing international cooperation, Egypt can cultivate a dynamic, future-ready education system that drives innovation and long-term socioeconomic growth.”
