Minister of Higher Education:
• We are committed to the directives of political leadership to enhance cooperation with leading international universities.
• The Egyptian-French Universities Forum strengthens development plans in Africa and Francophone countries.
• Partnerships between Egyptian and French universities support innovation in the fields of climate change and artificial intelligence.

French Minister of Higher Education:
• Academic cooperation between Egypt and France has resulted in significant outcomes in research and innovation.
• Ongoing cooperation in archaeology uses advanced techniques for heritage preservation.
• 35 years of academic partnership between Sorbonne University and Cairo University strengthens cultural cooperation between the two countries.

On the sidelines of the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Mr. Philippe Baptiste, French Minister of Higher Education, witnessed the signing of several protocols and agreements to enhance joint cooperation between Egypt and France as part of the Egyptian-French Universities Forum. The event was attended by French Ambassador to Egypt Eric Chevallier, several Egyptian and French university presidents, leaders of higher education in both countries, secretaries of councils, heads of research centers and institutes, French companies operating in Egypt, and a number of prominent media personnel. The event took place in the grand meeting hall at Cairo University.

In his speech, Dr. Ayman Ashour expressed his gratitude to both President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt and President Emmanuel Macron of France for their support, which has been a key foundation for the significant development of bilateral relations between the two countries, particularly in higher education and scientific research.

Dr. Ashour emphasized the historical depth of Egypt-France relations, especially in higher education and scientific research, noting Egypt’s commitment to supporting cultural and scientific cooperation with France. He mentioned the opening of new channels of cooperation with French universities through the development of new programs and specialties needed by the labor market. This aligns with Egypt’s leadership directives to expand cooperation with distinguished international universities to benefit from their expertise in offering world-class educational programs. He also highlighted the ministry`s success in establishing partnerships with several international educational institutions.

Dr. Ashour provided an overview of the achievements of Egypt’s higher education system, including the doubling of the number of Egyptian universities in the past ten years, which now include nearly 4 million Egyptian students, 53% of whom are women. This reflects Egypt`s role in empowering women to be partners in development. He also noted the presence of 180,000 foreign students from 119 countries. He pointed out the role of the Egyptian Knowledge Bank in enhancing the international rankings of Egyptian universities, which is one of the largest digital platforms for distance learning.

He reiterated that the Egyptian-French partnership supports development in both countries while also bolstering Egypt’s role as an educational hub for the Arab world and Africa. He added that international cooperation is one of the key pillars of the national strategy for higher education and scientific research launched in March 2023, which aligns with Egypt’s Vision 2030.

Dr. Ashour stated that the Egyptian-French Universities Forum represents an unprecedented leap in Egypt-France cooperation, which has lasted for centuries. He noted that this collaboration comes at a time when both countries face challenges that require integration and joint scientific and research cooperation to overcome them. The focus is on modern scientific programs and the research priorities that contribute to serving development plans in both countries, with a particular focus on technology, artificial intelligence, and innovation to boost industry and the national economy.

Dr. Mohamed Sami Abdel-Sadek, President of Cairo University, welcomed the attendees at Cairo University, which has been a leading educational institution in Egypt, the Arab world, and Africa since its establishment in 1908. He pointed out that the Egyptian-French Universities Forum, under the patronage of the Presidents of Egypt and France, reflects the distinguished bilateral relations between the two countries based on mutual respect and cultural cooperation.

During the forum, successful models of cooperation between Egypt and France were showcased, including the re-establishment of the French University in Egypt (UFE), which offers internationally recognized French degrees. The Egyptian leadership is supporting the development of a new campus, expected to accommodate 3,000 students by 2027. Academic programs are being expanded to meet the needs of the labor market in fields such as cybersecurity and environmental sustainability.