The ninth round of the International Forum for Higher Education in Egypt and the Middle East (EDUGATE) was held in Cairo from 9 to 11 August with the participation of Russia.

National and private Egyptian universities, representatives from European, American, and Arab universities, and international donors took part in the forum as well.

The annual EDUGATE is Egypt's higher education fair gathering universities, training institutions, and scholarship and grant providers under one roof. For the past eight years it has been the most acclaimed education forum in Egypt and the Middle East.

Representing Russia at this year’s summer edition of EDUGATE was a delegation from the Russian University for Friendship Among Peoples (RUFAP) led by Martina Ekaterina, head of the Department for Middle East and North African Countries at RUFAP, and Diana Kuznetsova, the European and American countries affairs specialist.

The Russian University President Oleg Yastrebov (photo credit of the Russian Cultural Centre)

RUFAP is always keen to attend the annual forum due to the interest of Egyptian youth to study in Russia, said Larisa Efremova, RUFAP’s vice president for international activities.

The RUFAP delegation gave a presentation at the forum about education in Russia and the disciplines available, including Russian scholarships for Egyptian students.

Alexey Tevanyan, director of Russian cultural centres in Egypt and counsellor of the Russian Embassy, pointed out that Egypt-Russia cooperation in the field of education has been growing of late.

“This is evident in the large number of Egyptians studying in Russia, estimated at about 16,000, which reflects the Egyptian confidence in Russian education," Tevanyan said.

Sherif Gad, president of the Egyptian Association and the Arab Union for Graduates of Russian and Soviet Universities stressed the distinguished relations between the RUFAP and Arab alumni associations.

“RUFAP participated in the Arab Forum for Graduates of Russian and Soviet Universities, which was held in Cairo two years ago. In addition, the Egyptian Association for Graduates of Russian and Soviet Universities will ink a cooperation agreement with RUFAP for further joint cooperation,” Gad said.

The last round of EDUGATE, winter 2021 edition, received 15,000 visitors and 60 exhibitors from 10 countries over three days.