The protocol aims at enhancing the exchange of experience between the two bodies in development projects and increasing the BUE's involvement in community service to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs) as part of Egypt's 2030 Vision, according to a statement released by the FLD on Sunday.

The protocol includes joint planning and implementing of development initiatives, such as the deployment of medical convoys for dentistry, mental health and public health, the statement added.

The protocol was signed by BUE President Mohamed Lotfy and Chair of the Board of Trustees of DLF Aya El-Qamari.

Lotfy said the agreement reflects the university’s philosophy and vision to engage into community services.

“We are the first private university in Egypt to proudly sign a protocol of cooperation with DLF," he added.

The protocol will enable the university to implement more activities that support climate change action, especially amid the country's current preparations to host the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in the Egyptian Red Sea city of Sharm El-Sheikh in November, Lotfy said.

El-Qamari, for her part, said the agreement comes within the framework of the presidential Decent Life initiative that serves more than 58 million citizens in villages across the countryside.

She highlighted that cooperation with the British University started in August, in which volunteers from BUE joined convoys from the You are Life initiative in the Fayoum governorate.

The volunteers contributed to organising workshops and activities for women and children of the governorate over six days, the BUE said in a brief statement on Sunday.

Decent Life, Hayah Karima in Arabic, is a presidential initiative comprising a series of countryside-focused national infrastructure projects.

The project aims to improve standards of living, infrastructure and basic services including health care across the countryside.

The project covers 4,658 villages, which are home to 58 percent of Egypt’s 103 million population, with an estimated budget of EGP 700 billion.

The enormous volume of work needed to develop the 4,500 villages required the initiative to be divided into three stages comprising 1,500 villages each.

On 1 August, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced that the first stage of the initiative will be concluded by December of this year.