The British University in Egypt and Cardiff Metropolitan University are shaping the future of Egypt's tourism and hospitality workforce through a new transnational education partnership. Professor Mohamed Loutfi MBE, President and Vice-Chancellor of The British University in Egypt, and Professor Rachel Langford FRSA, President and Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff Metropolitan University, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch joint dual-award academic programmes for students of The British University in Egypt’s newly established Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management. Through a three-year study model, students will be awarded two degrees simultaneously: the first accredited by Egypt's Supreme Council of Universities and the second by Cardiff Metropolitan University.
The partnership forms part of The British University in Egypt’s broader strategy to strengthen its international standing and deliver an advanced educational experience that bridges academic knowledge with applied practice. Two undergraduate programmes are introduced under the agreement: the BSc (Hons) Sustainable Tourism and Cultural Heritage Management and the BSc (Hons) Hospitality and Events Management. Both programmes are aligned with British quality standards and are designed to prepare graduates for the regional and international labour markets.
The Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management is the first industry-immersive faculty of its kind in Egypt, built on a model of deep professional integration: students benefit from industry-led learning in the classroom and structured internships that provide practical experience long before graduation. Agreements with leading industry names have been secured, including IHG Academy, Thomas Cook, Travco, Sunrise Resorts and Cruises, and Azur Hospitality, with further partnerships set to follow.
The dual-degree programmes bring together Cardiff Metropolitan University’s internationally recognised expertise in business, management, and tourism and hospitality education with The British University in Egypt's standing as the first and only university in Egypt and North Africa to hold accreditation from the UK's Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Ms Farida Khamis, Chair of the Board of Trustees of The British University in Egypt. Alongside President and Vice-Chancellor Rachael Langford FRSA, the Cardiff Metropolitan University delegation included Professor David Brooksbank, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Business, Global and Civic Engagement, and Mr Ian Thomas, Head of Partnerships and Global Engagement. The ceremony was also attended by members of The British University in Egypt’s Board of Trustees, senior academic leaders, and industry partners.
In her opening address, Chair of the Board of Trustees Ms. Farida Khamis, stated, " Few priorities are more important than equipping the next generation with the knowledge and skills needed to lead sectors that are vital to Egypt’s future and increasingly significant across the region. As a Board, maintaining the highest standards of academic quality guides every decision we make and every partnership we build. Expanding our students’ access to world-class British education through collaboration with Cardiff Metropolitan University reflects that commitment.”
President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mohamed Loutfi MBE, said, "Launching the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management through this international model aligns with our vision of producing graduates who are academically grounded, practically skilled, and ready to compete in both local and global markets. Our partnership with Cardiff Metropolitan University brings essential global expertise into our classrooms. We are offering our students a genuine opportunity to earn a British qualification without leaving their home country: one that opens real doors in tourism, hospitality, and events management worldwide."
Professor Loutfi added that the University will continue to build strategic alliances with leading institutions in sectors that are central to Egypt's economy, particularly in support of the tourism and hospitality industry as a key pillar of Egypt's Vision 2030.
President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rachael Langford FRSA, noted: "I am delighted to be here in Cairo launching our new transnational education partnership with The British University in Egypt. This collaborative partnership will see Cardiff Metropolitan University and the University supporting skills development in tourism and hospitality, a central pillar of Egypt's Vision 2030, which places cultural tourism, green growth, and job creation at the centre of economic planning, supporting in turn the development of industry-ready graduates across Egypt. For Cardiff Met, this partnership reflects our strategic endeavour to develop globally impactful partnerships rooted in quality, reciprocity, and sustained engagement. I look forward to the opportunities this creates for our students, staff, and communities."
The MOU details cooperation between the two universities, focusing on academic quality assurance, knowledge exchange, and mobility programmes for both students and staff. The agreement is also designed to scale, leaving room to add more joint academic programmes in the future.
Building a strong foundation for the new Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management, the partnership ensures its curriculum aligns directly with international industry demands.
Following a 1998 Memorandum of Cooperation between the governments of Egypt and the United Kingdom, The British University in Egypt was founded in 2004, and is Egypt's premier private British university. Recognised for its educational excellence, robust academic governance, and exceptional graduate employment, it is one of the few Egyptian Higher Education institutions to offer ‘dual degrees’, where students undertake undergraduate and postgraduate awards validated by Egypt’s Supreme Council of Universities and one of our UK collaborative partners, Manchester Metropolitan University, London South Bank University, and Queen Margaret University.
The University is the first QAA-accredited university in Egypt and North Africa, demonstrating achievement of the 10 European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance, and is a signatory of the Magna Charta Universitatum (Great Charter of Universities), upholding the principles of academic freedom, institutional autonomy, community service, preservation of humanity and sustainability, and the promotion of prosperity and enlightenment across the globe.
With 12 faculties, expanding to 13 in September 2026 with the launch of the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management, and a student body of nearly 12,500, The British University in Egypt is known for its 'learning by doing' approach, commitment to regional and global sustainable development goals, and unparalleled student life experience.
Short link: