Newkidontheblock

China-egypt University thrives with new initiative

Professor Lu Wei, Dean of Beijing Jiaotong University’s School of Software Engineering, showed the academics, officials and students gathering at the Egyptian Chinese University (ECU) in Cairo how the Internet has changed lifestyles worldwide, especially in China.

“There is no industry or profession in the world that is not connected to the Internet today,” he said.

Trade, education, shopping - everything is done online. “Today’s youth in China are called the Internet generation,” he said. “They turn to the Internet to resolve all their problems because they rely on the Internet as a way of thinking - not independently thinking. I expect Egypt to become more like China.”

Lu and his delegation were in Cairo in May to sign a cooperation initiative with the ECU, the first Chinese university in North Africa. The partnership will result in Beijing Jiaotong University providing training in software engineering to ECU students.

The collaboration falls within the China-egypt cooperation framework and China’s efforts to promote an e-silk Road. The goal is to transfer high-end technology to countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative to boost economic growth.

“The Chinese Government wishes to work with Egypt to realize industrialization,” Lu said, citing China’s expertise in manufacturing bullet trains and information technology engineering. Software technology is a core part of China’s industries.

The new initiative will also offer ECU students the opportunity to gain scholarships and travel to China for short-term study and training at large software companies. At the end of a five-year course, students will graduate with two certificates, one from the ECU and the other from Beijing Jiaotong University.

Dr. Karima Abdelkereem, ECU Chairperson, said the university was built to develop Egypt in industry, trade and agriculture through high-end technology. “The ECU is one of the strongest software engineering universities [in Egypt],” she said.

The first classes started in September 2016 with just the faculty of engineering and technology. The presidential decree had envisioned three more: economics and international trade; physical therapy; and pharmacy and medical technology. Next year, three more faculties will be added. The ECU also has a training hospital.

“The cooperation with China will open up different spheres,” Abdelkereem said. “I call upon students to apply what they study and benefit their country.”

Adel Darwish, Professor of Engineering and Scientific Consultant at the ECU, is enthusiastic about Beijing Jiaotong University’s specialization course in transport. “They have offered help in manufacturing trains and also in the field of architecture,” he said.