An Unlikely Partnership Leads to a Science and Technology University in the Middle East

Last year in June, the JPN HEO blog reported on the start up of an Egypt-Japan partnership for a University of Science and Technology.

Last fall it had an intake of 100.

This week the US-based and US-focused Chronicle of HE ran a piece on E-JUST in its international section:

http://chronicle.com/article/Unlikely-Partnership-Leads-to/126052/

brief excerpt follows link:

January 25, 2011
An Unlikely Partnership Leads to a Science and Technology University in the Middle East

By Ursula Lindsey

New Borg El Arab, Egypt

The Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology is still little more than a few buildings on the edge of a quiet industrial town in the Egyptian desert. Yet when about 100 graduate students started courses here this past fall, it was the beginning of an unprecedented partnership between Egypt and Japan.

Follow Up: Japan and Egypt to start joint university of science and technology

In follow up to the blog post about the new Japan-Egypt joint university of science and technology (see: http://japanheo.blogspot.com/2009/05/japan-and-egypt-to-start-joint.html), I found the following interesting article from 2008 at a site that reports on science exchange and aid for the developing world. I speculate that the current economic crisis that is DRASTICALLY affecting Japan political economy will only further cripple government finances for overseas aid and educational spending, making the successful start up of new science and technology universities in Okinawa, Malaysia and now Egypt seem EXTREMELY doubtful.

The entire article covers how Japan has tried to step cooperation with both Africa and the Arab world by focusing on Egypt. An excerpt follows the link that goes to the full article.

http://www.scidev.net/en/news/egypt-japan-make-2008-year-of-science-cooperatio.html

>>The two countries will also set up a Japanese science and technology university in Alexandria. The Egypt–Japan University will foster technological and scientific innovation in the African and Arab region by offering undergraduate and postgraduate science and technology degrees, including information and communications technologies, new materials courses and renewable energy technology.<<

Japan and Egypt to start joint university of science and technology

It seems very much like the Japan-Malaysia project, with an agreement that kicks the whole thing off and a schedule that sounds far too ambitious. If the project got started in August 2008, one has to wonder, for a start, why it took them over half a year to make a real announcement.

It seems like a lot of universities have signed on 'in support', but it seems doubtful as to whether any organization is really taking on the responsibilities of making sure this gets started in a sustainable way. It's the same with the Japan-Malaysia project.

http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2009/3/1189756_1130.html

http://ejust.org/


E-JUST is a joint Egyptian and Japanese university that is based on close 'partnership' between the two governments. The university is targetting 'world class' research and teaching quality with regional and global reach.

The implementation of this pioneer project has started in August 2008. It has been decided to start a postgraduate program in September 2009 in a temporary location in Mubarak City for Science and Technology Applications (MuCSAT) and for the fully fledged operation of both the undergraduate and postgraduate programs to start in September 2011.

Declaration Signing

His Excellency the prime minister Dr Ahmed Nazif has kindly witnessed signing the 'Bilateral Agreement' of E-JUST. The declaration is signed by His Excellency the minister of Higher Education and Research Dr Hany Hilal, Her Excellency the minister of International Cooperation Mrs. Fayza Aboulnaga, and his Excellency ambassador of Japan Mr. Kaoru Ishikawa.

The signing ceremony was held on March the 26th, 2009, at the Smart Village, Cairo. The event is also announced at the MOFA website.

http://ejust.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=42&lang=en

Consortium E-JUST Supporting Bodies

E-JUST supporting bodies are:

* A consortium of 12 top Universities from Japan, and 8 Universities from Egypt, and MuCSAT in Borg el Arab
* An expert team from Egyptian Universities and Industry
* Dedicated Japanese partners from MEXT, JICA, MOFA and other Japanese stakeholders.

Japanese Supporting University Consortium (JSUC)

* Hokkaido University
* Keio University
* Kyoto University
* Kyushu University
* Nagoya University
* Osaka University
* Ritsumeikan University
* Tohoku University
* Tokyo Institute of Technology
* University of Tokyo
* Waseda University
* Kyoto Institute of Technology

Egyptian Supporting University/Research Institutes Consortium (ESURC)

* Cairo University
* Alexandria University
* Ain-Shams University
* Assiut University
* Mansourah University
* Tanta University
* Suez-Canal University
* Zagazig University
* Mubarak City for Scientific Research and Technology Applications