The new technological universities are considered an extension of the technical education track. They aim to provide students with practical and scientific skills to meet the requirements of the local and international labor market through technological programs implemented in the university’s faculties, which were designed based on the needs of national projects and the geographical locations of the universities.
These universities award academic degrees starting from the post-secondary higher diploma, Bachelor of Technology, professional master’s degree, and professional doctorate in technology. Studies will begin next September in three universities (Cairo New, Quesna, and Beni Suef) for students holding three-year technical education diplomas and general secondary school certificates after passing the admission tests.
Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, announced the issuance of the presidential decree published in the Official Gazette on June 3 regarding Law No. 72 of 2019 for the establishment of technological universities. This step represents an important shift toward creating a new pathway for technical education in Egypt.
The law stipulates that the establishment and organization of technological universities shall be governed by the provisions of this law. The provisions of the Universities Organization Law No. 49 of 1972 shall apply to matters not addressed by this law. It also allows for the establishment of private or non-profit technological universities in accordance with Law No. 12 of 2009 on private and non-profit universities, for the purpose of granting the certificates and academic degrees awarded by technological universities established under this law.
The law also states that the affiliation of technological colleges and colleges affiliated with technological complexes under the Education Development Fund of the Council of Ministers, established prior to the enforcement of this law, may be transferred to one of the technological universities established under this law by a decision of the Minister of Higher Education, based on a request from the technological college or complex, after obtaining the opinion of the Minister of Finance and the approval of the council of the technological university to which the affiliation will be transferred.
In general, the college or technological complex must meet the conditions and standards set by the Supreme Council for Technological Education for transfer and affiliation.
The law stipulates that faculty members and employees of technological colleges and complexes whose affiliation is transferred to technological universities shall retain the same employment status and benefits they had prior to the transfer.
It also states that the provisions of Law No. 23 of 2018 on incentives for science, technology, and innovation shall apply to technological universities established under this law. In addition, the provisions of the Civil Service Law No. 81 of 2016 shall apply to non-academic staff working at technological universities established under this law.
The Prime Minister shall issue the executive regulations of the law based on a proposal by the Minister of Higher Education and after taking the opinion of the Supreme Council of Universities, within six months from the date of its enforcement.
During his inspection visit to Quesna Technological University, Dr. Abdel Ghaffar stated that the ministry’s strategy focuses on establishing technical and technological education that serves Egypt’s development goals in accordance with the 2030 Strategy. He noted that, based on the directives of the political leadership, work is underway to establish technological universities to enhance the level of technical education graduates and qualify them for the labor market. He also announced the completion of the Quesna Technological University campus by next September.
The minister added that technological colleges must be distinguished in terms of curricula, teaching methods, and the quality of graduates they provide to society, emphasizing Egypt’s need for graduates with a high level of technical and scientific training who are capable of meeting labor market requirements.
He was accompanied by Dr. Ahmed El-Hayoubi, Advisor to the Minister for Technical Education, Mr. Sayed Atta, Head of the Education Sector, and Engineer Mohamed El-Masry, Head of the Central Administration for Technical Education at the Ministry.
