Advance HE was proud to welcome Egypt’s Minister for Higher Education, His Excellency Mohammed Ayman Ashour, and senior delegation to meet UK HE representatives this week in an exercise to share and learn from each other’s experiences in approaches to boost graduate outcomes and employability.
The study tour was inspired by Egypt’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) 2030 Vision, which is fostering stronger links between higher education and industry.
The discussion explored the ways in which both countries meet the challenges of preparing students for the world of work, particularly through the curricula design and ‘whole university’ approaches to employability and enterprise.
Alison Johns, Advance HE chief Executive, said, “We were delighted to welcome His Excellency Mohammed Ayman Ashour, along with Professor Mostafa Rifat Ahmed Ismail, Secretary General, Supreme Council of Universities, Egypt and university presidents for these important discussions. University sectors across the world share many of the same or very similar challenges and it's extremely valuable to share ideas and creative solutions which help students succeed wherever they are taught.
“We are very conscious of our privileged convening position and were proud to bring together this high-level delegation with their ideas and approaches, and UK colleagues to showcase case studies from their institutions. It was also an opportunity to share our own evidence-based Student Employability Framework which has been rolled-out successfully in a number of global contexts.”
The visit took place under the UK Aid-funded Higher Education for Career Guidance and Employability Programme, of which Advance HE is a delivery partner.
The visit was facilitated by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Advance HE, in cooperation with the British Embassy in Cairo as well as other implementing partners of the programme, including, iCareer and Al Alfi Foundation.
The four-day programme has been developed by Advance HE Senior Advisor, Professor Rafe Hallett - who is an expert in designing employability into curricula, notably at Keele University and the University of Leeds. “One of the areas of particular interest to the delegation is the civic and developmental impact of higher education on the regions they serve,” said Professor Hallett.
During their stay, His Excellency and his delegation spent two days in London where they met:
- Professor Julie Sanders, Vice Chancellor of Royal Holloway University
- Professor Sarah Underwood, Professor of Entrepreneurial Practice, Manchester Metropolitan University
- Jo Burgess, Director of Degree Apprenticeships, Teesside University
- Professor Carl Gombrich, Academic Director of the London Interdisciplinary School
- Terry Dray, Higher Education Consultant, formerly Director of Employability at Keele University
- Ralph La Fontaine, Head of Student Entrepreneurship, City University
- Jerry Allen, Director for Entrepreneurship, University College London.
His Excellency was joined by:
- Professor Ayman Farid Hamza, Assistant Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research for Strategic Planning and Employability, Egypt
- Professor Moustafa Abdelkhalek Abdellah Atya, President of Sohag University
- Professor Ahmed Mohamed Kamal Mahmoud El-Minshawy, President of Assiut University
- Professor Mostafa Rifat Ahmed Ismail, Secretary General, Supreme Council of Universities, Egypt
- Professor Cherif Yousef Khater, President of Mansoura University
- Professor El-Sayed Abdel-Azim El-Sharkaway, President of Suez University
- Professor Abdelaziz H. Konsowa, President of Alexandria University.