The minister of higher education and Scientific Research, Egypt, Ayman Ashour, has received his Palestinian counterpart Palestinian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Mahmoud Abdominisa and Ambassador Osama Khedr Director of Palestinian Affairs at the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs office.
The meeting was also attended by the Sharif Saleh Head of the Central Department for New Students Affairs, Iyad Abu-Hinoud, in charge of academic and research affairs at the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Cairo.
The meeting was held to research ways of joint cooperation between the two sister countries in the field of higher education and scientific research at the educational building in New Cairo.
At the beginning of the meeting, Ayman Ashour confirmed the Ministry’s keenness to support the sister state of Palestine and strengthen the horizons of joint cooperation in all spheres.
The cooperation, especially in the field of higher education and scientific research, was reviewed. He cited the Ministry’s keenness in humiliating all the difficulties and problems faced by Palestinian students studying in Egyptian universities, which is nearly 6,000 students.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed mechanisms to enhance cooperation in the field of higher education, especially in relation to enhancing the partnership between Palestinian universities and their Egyptian counterparts.
“Both the countries contribute to improving the quality of higher education output in the two countries, and the possibility of increasing the scholarships provided to Palestinian students to study in Egyptian universities,” said the minister.
Egyptian and Palestinian representatives also discussed the points of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries to be signed during the current period. The MoU will aim to expand the base of mutual cooperation between them.
The memorandum of understanding will initiate the exchange of faculty, researchers and students between the two countries, the exchange of experience and training in scientific research, holding joint research projects, especially in the field of combating climate change, and challenges facing the two sister countries.
On his part, the Palestinian minister praised the historic and unique brotherly relations that unite the Palestinian and Egyptian peoples, appreciating Egypt’s leading role in the region and its support and assistance to the Palestinian people in all spheres.
He also stressed reviewing mechanisms for the development of the higher education system and scientific research in Palestine.
He further mentioned that they focus on choosing scientific disciplines that meet the needs of the labour market, in support of Palestine’s quest to develop its education system, by leveraging Egyptian expertise, especially in the areas of quality, institutional and program approval, upgrading faculty members, training doctors, professional licensing, and establishing research centres, aiming to enrich scientific research in Palestine.
Minister Ayman Ashour pointed out the excellent scientific and academic competencies in Egyptian universities, calling for an increase in the number of scholarships offered to Palestinian students, especially in the technical and technological fields, veterinary medicine, and artificial intelligence.
In the end, he referred to the increase in the number Of Palestinian students studying in Egypt within the framework of the initiative (Study in Egypt) to thank the administration of arrivals in the Ministry for providing all ways of supporting Palestinian students.
