Decentralize Egypt's Higher Education

Abstract

In the News Focus Story “A new day for Egyptian science?” (15 July, p. [278][1]), A. Lawler provides an accurate picture of a nation in dire need of revamping education as it struggles to define itself in the aftermath of the Mubarak dictatorship. Current Egyptian students can enroll only in government-controlled academic programs that serve more than 2.7 million students at public and private universities or public research institutes ([ 1 ][2]). Because of the complexity involved in centrally administering such a large system, quality has been sacrificed for quantity and innovation has been stifled. We believe that decentralization of higher education in Egypt could offer many benefits to students, faculty, and their surrounding communities. Faculty would be free to develop innovative curricula without the current constraints of a centralized approval process ([ 2 ][3]). Research centers could be managed independently, privatized, and/or linked to private-sector industries. The Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education has recently moved toward granting autonomy to university branches in Egypt's rural areas ([ 3 ][4]). This is a step in the right direction that should be expanded to give full independence to Egypt's universities. Pursuing a decentralization strategy would provide new opportunities for independent universities. They could adopt innovative management procedures and develop creative financial strategies that complement academic programs and research goals with academe and the private sector working closely together. Ultimately, such restructuring would boost Egypt's global competitiveness and serve as a model for the Middle East as the ripple of effects of the Arab Spring spread throughout the region. 1. [↵][5] 1. R. I. Selim, 2. M. El-Halawany Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education, “Guide to Higher Education in Egypt,” R. I. Selim, M. El-Halawany, Eds. (2007); [www.mohe-casm.edu.eg/Main\_menu/version/daleel\_talem_aaly/English.pdf][6]. 2. [↵][7] World Bank, “Higher Education Reform in the Middle East and North Africa” (World Bank, Report No. 62651, Washington, DC, 2011), vol. 1. 3. [↵][8] Egyptian Higher Education Report Team, “Higher education in Egypt: Country background report summary” (Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education, El Giza, Egypt, 2008). [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/content/333/6040/278.summary [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-2 [4]: #ref-3 [5]: #xref-ref-1-1 View reference 1 in text [6]: http://www.mohe-casm.edu.eg/Main_menu/version/daleel_talem_aaly/English.pdf [7]: #xref-ref-2-1 View reference 2 in text [8]: #xref-ref-3-1 View reference 3 in text