Minister of Education Meets with New Italian Ambassador in Cairo
Mr. Mohamed Abdel Latif, Minister of Education and Technical Education, received Ambassador Augustin Balis, the new Ambassador of Italy to Cairo, to discuss ways to further enhance joint cooperation in the fields of technical education and the expansion of applied technology schools.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Minister affirmed the depth of the long-standing Egyptian-Italian relations in various fields, particularly cooperation in the field of technical education, which is witnessing rapid development in light of the trend towards applying international systems in training and qualification and linking education to the international labor market.
He indicated that the Ministry is currently working on implementing an integrated cooperation model with the Italian side through the Applied Technology Schools (ATS) system, in coordination with Italian industrial education and training institutions (ITS), within the framework of the Ministry's plan to raise the efficiency of technical education and develop curricula, training programs, and evaluation methods in accordance with the requirements of the international labor market.
Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif affirmed that professional evaluation and accreditation are a fundamental pillar in this system, as graduates are granted certificates recognized according to Italian standards, which provides them with job opportunities both inside and outside Egypt.
The Minister pointed out that the Ministry has already signed cooperation agreements with the Italian side to launch ten applied technology schools in multiple fields, including the medical and electrical fields, as a first phase of this ambitious project, in preparation for expanding the establishment of more schools in cooperation with the relevant Italian institutions during the next phase. The Minister affirmed that this cooperation comes within the framework of the Ministry's efforts to develop the technical education system through 1,270 technical schools across the country, which rely on international curricula, training programs, and certifications. He explained that the Egyptian experience in this field is progressing rapidly, in parallel with similar cooperation projects with Germany and Singapore.
The Minister also emphasized the Ministry's commitment to providing all necessary facilities to ensure the success of this cooperation, which is an important step towards improving the quality of technical education in Egypt and linking it to the needs of the local and global labor markets. He commended the continuous Italian support in this field and the convergence of views between the two sides regarding the development of vocational education in a way that serves the interests of both countries.
He indicated that the Ministry is adopting a clear approach based on developing the technical education system in Egypt to be on par with the education systems implemented in Italian technical schools, considering them a benchmark model to be emulated in terms of quality, discipline, and practical application.
Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif also addressed the tourism and hospitality sector, considering it one of the main pillars of the national economy at the present time. He pointed out that the Ministry is taking rapid steps in the technical education sector related to this field to ensure the preparation of qualified personnel capable of competing locally and internationally.
For his part, the Italian Ambassador, Augustine Pallis, praised the comprehensive development and ambitious vision witnessed in the technical education system in Egypt, which is consistent with international standards. He affirmed that his country attaches great importance to strengthening cooperation with Egypt in the fields of technical and vocational education and training. The Italian Ambassador affirmed his country's commitment to continuing to provide the necessary technical support and expertise for the development of Egyptian technical schools, through Italian institutions specializing in industrial and technical education (ITS), thereby contributing to the transfer of distinguished Italian expertise to the Egyptian technical education system.
Attending the meeting from the Italian side were Mr. Michael Scia, First Secretary of the Italian Embassy in Cairo, and Ms. Annalisa Wagner, Education Attaché at the Embassy.
From the Ministry of Education, attendees included Dr. Amr Bassila, Head of the Central Administration for Technical Education Development and Director of the Applied Technology Schools Operation and Management Unit, and Dr. Hanem Ahmed, Advisor to the Minister for International Cooperation and Agreements.