15/06/2021

A workshop on Ranking of Egyptian Universities and a ‎Ceremony for Honoring Universities Listed in the 2022 QS ‎Rankings ‎

Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, on Monday evening inaugurated the activities of the workshop organized by the Ministry of Higher Education in cooperation with the Knowledge Bank and the QS Ranking in the Middle East, on the rankings of Egyptian universities, as well as the ceremony for honoring the universities listed in the 2022 QS ranking. The events were attended by Dr. Ayman Ashour, Deputy Minister for University Affairs, Dr. Ashun Fernandes, President of the QS Ranking in the Middle East, and presidents and deputy presidents of the universities listed in the ranking.

In his speech, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar pointed out that the ministry in June 2017 formed a team that would undertake the tasks of improving the ranking of Egyptian universities and helping them to be recognized and accredited by prestigious ranking institutions such as QS World, British Times, Chinese Shanghai, Times News, Leiden Ranking, and other international Ranking institutions.

The Minister stressed the need to benefit from human and social sciences research in advancing the international ranking of Egyptian universities, as well as the importance of setting other criteria for evaluating universities to improve their international image, including the way universities deal with Corona pandemic, and the way they maintain the safety of faculty members, workers and students while continuing the educational process and conducting exams, to successfully pass this era.

  Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar said that the ministry aims to motivate universities to communicate effectively and positively with the local community through involving faculty members, as well as supporting universities to establish dual degree programs with foreign universities with outstanding rankings. He thanked presidents of Egyptian universities, members of the ranking committees, and employees of the Egyptian Knowledge Bank for their outstanding efforts in including many Egyptian universities in international rankings.

On his part, Dr. Ayman Ashour pointed out that the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research team developed an action plan to increase awareness among all university employees, including faculty and assistant staff to include Egyptian universities in international rankings. In this regard, universities were classified into three groups based on the number of times the university appeared in the rankings. He explained that each of the three groups must have a plan of action to raise the ranking, and that action plan should mainly comprise four pillars to advance academic ranking, namely: scientific research, teaching strategies, employability, and the international reputation of the university. He added that these factors are considered essential in the ranking of universities in general.

During the workshop, the head of the QS Ranking in the Middle East gave a lecture to the members of ranking committees in universities about identifying the best practices of the QS Ranking in the world and the Arab region for ranking universities, as well as the criteria for evaluating universities with a view to improving the performance level of universities in the QS International Ranking, as well as the reputation of university research conducted by researchers of various disciplines in similar international universities.

 At the conclusion of the workshop activities, the Minister, Head of the QS Ranking in the Middle East and Dr. Ayman Ashour distributed certificates to the universities included in the 2022 Ranking, namely: American University in Cairo, Cairo University, Ain Shams University, Al-Azhar University, Alexandria University, Assiut University, British University in Egypt, Suez Canal University, Helwan University, German University in Cairo, Mansoura University, Tanta University, and Zagazig University.

The workshop activities were witnessed by Dr. Hisham Farouk, Minister's Assistant for Digital Transformation, Dr. Anwar Ismail, Minister's Assistant for National Projects, Dr. Ashraf Al-Azzazi, president of Cultural Affairs and Missions Sector, Dr. Adel Abdel Ghaffar, Media Adviser and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry, Advisers to the Deputy Minister of Higher Education for Universities, Assistant Secretaries of the Supreme Council of Universities, representatives of the Knowledge Bank, and members of the University Ranking Committees.