Ministry of Higher Education of Egypt visited ICHEI and SUSTech
On 22 August 2025, a delegation from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Egypt, led by Dr. Sherif Kishk, Assistant to Minister for Smart Governance, visited the International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO (UNESCO-ICHEI) and Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech).
Professor JIN Li, Director of UNESCO-ICHEI and Vice President of SUSTech, representatives from UNESCO-ICHEI and SUSTech, and representatives from Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. attended the meeting. The parties held in-depth discussions on topics including the digital and artificial intelligence (AI) competency development of university faculty, talent cultivation, joint research, and student exchanges, and explored potential directions for future collaboration.
Group photo of attendees
Dr. Sherif Kishk noted that with the advent of the AI era, both students' learning approaches and the job market are undergoing profound transformations. In the face of these new challenges, the development of the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE) are both timely and significant, providing strong support for innovation in higher education and talent cultivation. He further emphasised that Egypt attaches great importance to the application of AI within its education and research systems. Through international cooperation with UNESCO-ICHEI and SUSTech, Egypt aims to comprehensively enhance the digital and AI literacy of university faculty and students, thereby injecting new momentum into the implementation of the Egypt National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2025–2030).
Dr. Sherif Kishk, Assistant to Minister for Smart Governance of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Egypt
Professor JIN Li, Director of UNESCO-ICHEI and Vice President of SUSTech, noted that digital transformation and AI empowerment have become key directions in the development of global higher education, and their advancement cannot be achieved without policy support and international collaboration. He noted that UNESCO-ICHEI and SUSTech will work hand in hand with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Egypt and other partners to explore sustainable development pathways based on local realities, and jointly promote educational equity and quality improvement.
Professor JIN Li, Director of UNESCO-ICHEI and Vice President of SUSTech
Ms. BI Xiaohan, Deputy Director of UNESCO-ICHEI, noted that UNESCO-ICHEI will strengthen exchanges and cooperation at the policy level to support Egyptian university faculty in enhancing their digital literacy and AI application capabilities, while also cultivating future talent aligned with industry needs. Professor HONG Wei, Director of SUSTech Global and Professor in the Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, shared the SUSTech's latest progress in discipline development, talent cultivation, research innovation, and international cooperation. He emphasised that SUSTech places great importance on its partnerships with Egyptian universities and looks forward to deepening practical collaboration in cutting-edge fields such as AI and technological innovation, promoting research collaboration and faculty and student exchanges, and continuously expanding new horizons for international cooperation in higher education.
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| Ms. BI Xiaohan, Deputy Director of UNESCO-ICHEI | Professor HONG Wei, Director of SUSTech Global and Professor in the Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering |
Egypt is one of UNESCO-ICHEI's key programme countries, with the IIOE Egypt National Centre hosted at Ain Shams University established in 2022. Since its establishment, the IIOE Egypt National Centre has built a localised network covering 24 universities across the country. Through the joint development of micro-certification courses, faculty training, the Smart Classroom Project, and national-level policy dialogues, it has significantly advanced the digital transformation of higher education in Egypt. To date, IIOE Egypt National Centre has implemented 14 localised IIOE micro-certification courses, trained nearly 1,000 university faculty members, and integrated IIOE training programmes into Ain Shams University's faculty development system, providing sustained momentum for the innovative development of higher education in Egypt.
Looking ahead, UNESCO-ICHEI and SUSTech will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Egypt, the IIOE Egypt National Centre, and strategic partners such as Huawei. Efforts will focus on faculty training, talent cultivation, and research innovation, with the aim of providing exemplary experiences to advance the digital transformation of higher education in the region.
About Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Egypt
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Egypt, established in 1961, is dedicated to developing Egypt's education and scientific research system in accordance with international standards. Its main responsibilities include expanding access to higher education, enhancing faculty capacity, advancing scientific research, and formulating and implementing educational policies. The Ministry's vision is to build a modern Egyptian higher education and scientific research system that keeps pace with the latest scientific and technological developments and interacts positively with its surroundings, leading to a society based on the continuous production and use of knowledge.
