Konsowa’s remarks came during a meeting with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, Prime Minister Mostafa Mabdouly, and Minister of Education and Technical Education Mohamed Abdel-Latif.
During the meeting, the Higher Education Minister said the step comes in implementation of the President’s directives to link academic disciplines with the current and future needs of the labour market at the national, regional and international levels.
He noted that students have been allocated across different fields for the upcoming academic year, with increased enrollment at technological universities, faculties of computing and information, artificial intelligence and data science, science and engineering faculties, the medical and nursing sectors, and faculties of industrial education, as well as agriculture, tourism and hotel management.
This, Konsowa affirmed, comes alongside plans to reduce the number of students admitted to humanities faculties in disciplines where demand is lower in local and international labour markets, according to a presidential statement.
During the meeting, the president reviewed preparations for the start of the new academic year, as well as efforts to ensure that the educational process operates according to the highest standards of quality and efficiency.
He also reviewed ongoing efforts to develop curricula and train and qualify teachers and staff at educational institutions to ensure the preparation of graduates with a high level of scientific and practical competence and the skills needed to enter the labour market.
For his part, Konsowa reviewed developments in improving the educational environment at Egyptian universities and institutes, as well as upgrading educational and training services to prepare graduates to keep pace with scientific and technological developments.
The minister also discussed efforts to enhance the capabilities of various Egyptian universities, provide an integrated educational and research environment, and offer students the best training and qualification opportunities.
He further reviewed ongoing efforts to transform Egypt into a regional and international hub for higher education, scientific research and innovation, in addition to efforts to strengthen cooperation with a number of international partners in educational and cultural exchange.
Such cooperation provides students, researchers and faculty members with opportunities to exchange expertise, skills, and scientific, academic and research practices.
Konsowa also discussed efforts to improve the international rankings of Egyptian universities and enhance their competitiveness regionally and internationally.
He also highlighted measures to build faculty members’ capacities and improve academic and administrative performance through partnerships with leading international universities and institutions, drawing on their expertise to enhance the efficiency of the higher education and scientific research system.
According to the Egyptian presidency, the minister reviewed developments concerning the Future Skills Academy, describing it as one of the national initiatives aimed at preparing a generation capable of keeping pace with future jobs and the requirements of the digital economy.
The initiative, he noted, provides advanced digital training pathways and international professional certifications for students, graduates, faculty members and employees of higher education institutions, strengthening the link between education and labor market needs.
In this regard, Konsowa added that the ministry is preparing to sign a cooperation agreement with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to provide globally recognized training content from leading universities, institutions and international companies in high-demand fields, including artificial intelligence, data analysis, cybersecurity, cloud computing, entrepreneurship and green skills.
The first phase, according to the minister, aims to provide around 50,000 training licenses benefiting approximately 150,000 students and trainees, with gradual expansion to reach a total of around 1.5 million licenses over three years.
He added that the academy’s role is not limited to providing training courses, but also aims to establish an integrated and sustainable national system for skills development and lifelong learning.
The system will identify skills gaps, align training programs with actual labor market needs, measure the impact of training and link it to professional readiness and employment opportunities, while expanding training opportunities for young people across different governorates, Konsowa said.
This, he emphasized, would help enhance the competitiveness of Egyptian graduates locally, regionally and internationally, narrow the gap between educational outcomes and labor market requirements, and promote a culture of continuous learning.
It would also support the state’s drive toward a competitive, knowledge- and innovation-based economy and strengthen young Egyptians’ ability to benefit from opportunities created by future jobs and rapid transformations in the digital economy, the minister affirmed.
During the meeting, President El-Sisi directed the continued development of the higher education and scientific research system and building on the achievements already made, given the central role of the system in developing the Egyptian individual and achieving development.
He also directed that priority be given to preparing generations equipped with the latest scientific tools to meet labour market needs, stressing the importance of continuing digitalization efforts and using artificial intelligence applications in the modernization process to maximize the returns of education development efforts.
El-Sisi further stressed the need to strengthen international cooperation and exchange expertise with partner countries and prestigious educational institutions, which would help Egypt benefit from international best practices and support its efforts to develop education.
He also highlighted the importance of partnerships aimed at establishing foreign branches of international educational institutions in Egypt to help build relevant national capacities.
For his part, the education minister reviewed the developments on the implementation of the Egyptian Baccalaureate Certificate system and the General Secondary Education system.
Abdel-Latif said the new curricula had been developed according to the best international standards, noting that specialized institutions had been involved in reviewing and preparing the curricula to ensure that students benefit from the latest educational technologies and contribute to preparing qualified personnel.
He emphasized the ministry's commitment to comprehensively developing the educational process, covering all scientific and educational aspects.
The minister also stressed the commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for Egyptian students, noting that the needs of different student groups are being taken into account, including providing an appropriate educational environment for all students based on their needs.
He also presented developments in Egypt-Japan cooperation in education, noting that Egyptian-Japanese schools have emerged as a pioneering model supporting Egypt’s efforts to develop its education system and modernize curricula.
The minister also reviewed ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation with Germany in technical education and vocational training, as well as cooperation with Italy in applied technology schools and technical education.
He stressed that these partnerships aim to prepare qualified personnel to meet labour market needs both domestically and internationally.
Abdel-Latif also noted that the ministry has provided travel scholarships to Japan for 10 students from different Egyptian governorates in recognition of their excellence and achievements in programming, in coordination with Japanese company Sprix.
The move, he said, comes as part of efforts to encourage students to learn programming, develop students’ skills in technology and programming, and strengthen international partnerships that provide students with outstanding educational and training opportunities.
The ministry has also provided 50 training opportunities for students at companies, helping them gain practical experience and link their educational skills to labour market needs, according to Abdel-Latif.
In this regard, President El-Sisi directed the continued development of all aspects of the education system, including the regular updating of curricula and textbooks to keep pace with relevant scientific and educational developments and ensure that students are qualified according to the latest and most effective standards.
El-Sisi also stressed the importance of continuing to develop cooperation with various international partners to support Egypt’s efforts to advance its education system and benefit from the best educational practices in preparing and qualifying educational personnel in a manner suited to the Egyptian context.
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