1. PROVIDING
QUALITY MASS HIGHER EDUCATION,
THE EGYPTIAN EXPERIENCE
MOSTAFA MOHSEN RADWAN,
RASHA SAAD SHARAF & DOAA KHALIL IBRAHIM
HE REFORM PROJECTS MANAGEMENT UNIT,
MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION,
EGYPT
http://www.qaap.edu.eg/sc/

2. Overpopulation,
A Problem or A Chance ?
 Egypt population: nearly 87 million.
 Large youth population in an ageing world: 39%(< 15 years).
 Further youth surge is projected to flow through to higher
education from 2024.
 Expected demand for HE will continue to grow strongly.
 Gross enrolment rate is projected to increase from 30.7% in
2010/11 to 37.5.0% in 2021/22 (a more optimistic scenario
projects a rise to 40%).
 1.1 million participants will need to be accommodated at an
average growth rate of 3% per year (73 300) over 15 years.
 Egypt is facing the challenge of the need to expand higher
education enrolment, both for meeting the growing
demand and also the contribution of higher education in
nation economic development.

3. Strategic
Plan for Higher Education
Use of Information and Communication Technology
Strategic Quality Assurance
Plan for
Higher Technical and Vocational Higher Education
Education
Human Resource Development
National Center for Measurements and Assessment

4. Use of Information and
Communication Technology
Network Infrastructure National Centre for e-Learning
Providing access to Developing non-traditional ways of
scientific and academic learning at all levels;
resources (EULC). under/postgraduate and continuing
Establishing televised professional development.
and video conference Enhancing the quality of student
network in universities. learning, promoting wider access
Digital libraries to university's courses, and
improving teaching effectiveness.
Automation of
universities libraries.
Union Catalogue for
Universities Libraries.
Overcrowded classrooms and lack of human resources was
compensated with the provision of self-learning opportunities
and web-based student centred learning opportunities.

5. Quality Assurance
By the end of 2007, an independent National Authority for
Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Education (NAQAAE)
was established as an accrediting body for all Egyptian
educational institutions.
Over years 2007-2012, projects of Program of Continuous
Improvement and Qualifying for Accreditation (PCIQA) are
executed in governmental Egyptian HE institutes with the
mission of reaching a self-activated institutional ability capable
of carrying out continuous improvement, as well as achieving
academic and institutional quality assurance with high
competitive ability and qualifying for accreditation.
Massification issues are addressed while faculties are
developing their strategic plans and performing their continuous
improvement fulfilling the institutional capacity and educational
effectiveness criteria and standards for accreditation.

6. Strategic
Plan for Higher Education....cont.
HR Development Technical and Vocational HE
Training centre within each Declining numbers of enrolments
university. rather than massification.
Staff training programs to
Government's objective is to
improve teaching skills to cope
increase enrolment and shift
with large cohorts of students, enrolment from theoretical academic
and the use of open, distance fields towards this sector in an
and e-learning. attempt to respond dynamically to
both the local, regional and
National Center for international labour market needs
Measurements & Assessment (establishing integrated technology
Scenarios for the admission clusters, industrial colleges,
to HE. introducing new divisions,
Specialized training specializations, programs and
programs in measurements, courses as well as reforming old
evaluation and building ones, and establishing quality
questions banks. assurance units).

7. Innovative Approaches
to address Massification
On On
the National the Institutions
Strategic Policies Level Practice Level

8. On the National Strategic
Policies Level
• National Qualification Framework: A modern NQF is
proposed, that recognizes all types of education and
1 training, formal or non-formal, as well as prior learning.
• Geographical Distribution of Students in HE:
Students placement using fully automated system based
on the capacity of each HE institution and scores of
2 candidates, to contribute clearly in decreasing students’
migration within the country and reducing
the alienation and family reunification.
• Expansion in Private Higher Education:
- The share of private higher education in Egypt has
3 increased from 14% in 2000 to 20.4% in 2010.
- It is planned that the private HE is to reach 30% in 2022
from the overall enrolment in HE sector.

9. On the Institutions
Practice Level
• Funding and Diversifying funding Sources: establishing
specialized centres to supply consultations and scientific
1 solutions, some institutions have undertaken activities of renting
of their premises, running a bookshop and printing press.
• Tuition Fees for Non-Conventional Programs
• Non-Traditional Academic Programs in Foreign Languages
2 • Open Education Programs, Distance and Online Learning
• New Programmes in Higher Education
• Twinning Programs and Joint Degrees
• Professional and Career Certificates: HE institutions provide
3 array of professional and career certificates at partial fees
contributing to the revenues and financing of public universities.
• Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning: Most of HE
4 institutions offer these programs that assist professionals along
their careers for enhancing their knowledge and skills.

10. Egypt at the Cross Roads,
and the Road Map
- HE sector is considered - particularly after the revolution - as
a major factor in development.
- It is expected to provide HE opportunities that can contribute
to resolving the problems of unemployment and changing
economic map of Egypt.
Evaluating and reconsidering public universities zero fees
policy.
Encouraging of institutional differentiation.
Seeking creative ways of attracting young and brilliant staff
members thus curbing the problem of brain drain.
The introduction of a funding formula or mechanism takes
into consideration individual institutions needs and
performance.
Supporting the development and implementation of the
National Qualifications Framework.