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/

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.

Use of Information and Communication Technology

Quality Assurance

Technical and Vocational Higher Education

Human Resource Development

National Center for Measurements and Assessment

Strategic Plan for Higher Education

Strategic Plan for Higher

Education

Use of Information and Communication Technology

Overcrowded classrooms and lack of human resources was compensated with the provision of self-learning opportunities and web-based student centred learning opportunities.

Network Infrastructure

Providing access to scientific and academic resources (EULC).Establishing televised and video conference network in universities.

Digital librariesAutomation of universities libraries.Union Catalogue for Universities Libraries.

National Centre for e-LearningDeveloping non-traditional ways of learning at all levels; under/postgraduate and continuing professional development.Enhancing the quality of student learning, promoting wider access to university's courses, and improving teaching effectiveness.

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.

Strategic Plan for Higher Education....cont.

HR DevelopmentTraining centre within each

university.Staff training programs to

improve teaching skills to cope with large cohorts of students, and the use of open, distance and e-learning.

National Center for Measurements & Assessment

Scenarios for the admission to HE.Specialized training programs in measurements, evaluation and building questions banks.

Technical and Vocational HE

Declining numbers of enrolments rather than massification.

Government's objective is to increase enrolment and shift enrolment from theoretical academic fields towards this sector in an attempt to respond dynamically to both the local, regional and international labour market needs (establishing integrated technology clusters, industrial colleges, introducing new divisions, specializations, programs and courses as well as reforming old ones, and establishing quality assurance units).

Innovative Approaches to address Massification

On the National

Strategic Policies Level

Onthe Institutions Practice Level

On the National Strategic Policies Level

1

• National Qualification Framework: A modern NQF is proposed, that recognizes all types of education and training, formal or non-formal, as well as prior learning.

2

• Geographical Distribution of Students in HE: Students placement using fully automated system based

on the capacity of each HE institution and scores of candidates, to contribute clearly in decreasing students’ migration within the country and reducing the alienation and family reunification.

3

• Expansion in Private Higher Education:- The share of private higher education in Egypt has

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.

On the Institutions Practice Level

1

• Funding and Diversifying funding Sources: establishing specialized centres to supply consultations and scientific solutions, some institutions have undertaken activities of renting of their premises, running a bookshop and printing press.

2

• Tuition Fees for Non-Conventional Programs:•Non-Traditional Academic Programs in Foreign Languages•Open Education Programs, Distance and Online Learning•New Programmes in Higher Education•Twinning Programs and Joint Degrees

3• Professional and Career Certificates: HE institutions provide

array of professional and career certificates at partial fees contributing to the revenues and financing of public universities.

4• Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning: Most of HE

institutions offer these programs that assist professionals along their careers for enhancing their knowledge and skills.

Egypt at the Cross Roads, and the Road Map

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.

- 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.