Egypt plans to launch specialised universities as part of a vision to modernise the higher-education system, promote innovation, and prepare students for labour market needs.
The plan is meant to support the national economy and to equip members of the younger generations with the tools they need to keep pace with global transformations and compete locally and internationally.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research said the specialised universities will be established in partnership with other ministries and international universities. The plan aligns with Egypt Vision 2030 and the requirements of the ongoing Fifth Industrial Revolution, the ministry added.
The approach is based on developing modern educational models centred on innovation, specialisation, and the integration of academic study with practical applications.
Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Ayman Ashour said the plan is based on responding to the needs of the labour market and supporting sustainable development. Egypt needs qualified personnel in specialised fields that serve the national economy and major national projects, he added.
Ashour presented details of the plan to the cabinet, including a University of Food Sciences in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Hiroshima University in Japan, Cairo University and Benha University, an International Transport University in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and TU Dresden, a University of Sports Sciences in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, a University of Tourism and Hospitality in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism, and a University of Energy in partnership with the ministries of petroleum and electricity and renewable energy.
The specialised universities are critical for the development of the higher-education system through flexible programmes based on project-based learning, the promotion of innovation and sustainability, and the building of strong partnerships with industry and international universities, Ashour said.
They will help localise advanced industries and expand employment opportunities.
Ashour referred to the Future of Jobs Report 2025 issued by the World Economic Forum, which shows the growing importance of fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and analytical and creative skills in today’s jobs market.
This, he said, necessitates the development of curricula and teaching methods, as well as the strengthening of applied research partnerships with production and industrial institutions.
The coming academic year will mark the launch of the universities of transport and food sciences, which represent pilot models for the new generation of specialised universities. The University of Transport, the first of its kind in the Middle East, comprises three faculties: Engineering, Transport Technology, and Transport Economics.
The new university is meant to prepare graduates capable of designing, operating, and managing modern transport projects and dealing with advanced logistics. The University of Food Sciences, meanwhile, will serve as a scientific platform for food security and will include five faculties: Smart Agriculture, Animal Production, Water Resources Management, Food Process Technology, and Agricultural Mechanisation.
It will also house a research centre and a business incubator, established in partnership with Hiroshima University, to deliver applied solutions that support food security and national projects.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research held a series of coordination meetings, including a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel Al-Wazir and with German expert Michael Krieg from TU Dresden, to discuss the establishment of the University of Transport.
Another meeting was held with Minister of Agriculture Alaa Farouk to discuss the establishment of the University of Food Sciences. It was agreed that specialised teams would complete the establishment procedures for both universities and prepare for the start of studies, set to be announced by mid-year.
Assem Hegazi, an assistant professor of educational psychology at Cairo University, said that specialised universities play a pivotal role in community development because they align with societal needs.
They also function as specialised centres of expertise for their respective sectors. Such universities support national development by meeting the requirements of the labour market and offering scientific solutions based on applied research.
“Partnerships between Egypt’s specialised universities and international institutions will create an educational environment that stimulates innovation by focusing on creativity and directing research efforts towards needed fields,” Hegazi told Al-Ahram Weekly.
He pointed out that specialised universities exist in many countries, offering a higher degree of specialisation, focus, and alignment with labour market requirements. They also provide the country with an opportunity to achieve qualitative global competitiveness.
Hegazi said that this opportunity is not equally available in multi-disciplinary universities due to differences in governance structures. Specialised universities, by contrast, are administered by teams drawn from the same field, enabling them to take decisions that serve the interests of the specialisation and its graduates.
He added that various sectors are set to show demand for graduates of specialised universities, given their strong practical skills and hands-on experience.
Tamer Shawki, an education expert and professor of educational evaluation at Ain Shams University in Cairo, said that the new specialised universities in the fields of food, tourism and hospitality, and transport offer diverse opportunities for developing specialised workers and enhancing students’ practical and academic skills.
He explained that these universities seek to avoid replicating traditional departments, instead focusing on the precise areas of specialisation relevant to each institution. This approach allows them to keep pace with modern scientific trends at both the local and global levels, while also forging partnerships for scientific, cultural, and academic exchange with specialised universities worldwide.
The new specialised universities will provide opportunities for cooperation with the business sector and government institutions to employ graduates across various fields, he said.
Shawki said that one of the advantages of the universities is the reliance on artificial intelligence in their curricula.
Specialised universities represent one of the most advanced educational models in the Middle East and are expected to assume a leading position in establishing specialised education models, not only in Egypt but also in neighbouring countries, Shawki said.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 15 January, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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