Sultanate, Egypt agree to boost higher education cooperation

MUSCAT: The Sultanate and Egypt on Sunday signed the executive programme for cooperation in the field of higher education for 2018 till 2020.

The programme was signed at the Ministry of Higher Education on behalf of the Sultanate’s government by Dr Rawya bint Saud al Busaidiyah, Minister of Higher Education, while from the Egyptian side it was signed by Dr Khalid Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Egypt.

The signing came when Dr Rawya received in her office the Egyptian Minister and his delegation. The two sides held a session of talks during which they discussed means of cooperation and coordination in matters of common concern.

The session touched on several topics, such as the recognition of some higher education institutions in the Sultanate by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Egypt, as well as benefiting from the Egyptian experiences in conducting research surveys related to the higher education. The session also touched on means of enhancing the exchange of scholarships between the two countries and encouraging cooperation in the fields of scientific research.

Shaikh Abdullah bin Nasser al Bakri, Minister of Manpower, also received in his office on Sunday Dr Khalid Abdel Ghaffar.

The meeting reviewed fields of cooperation between the two brotherly countries in the areas of technical education, vocational training and entrepreneurship, in addition to the Sultanate’s experience in linking the labour market with the technical education.

The meeting was attended by Dr Muna bint Salim al Jardaniyah, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Manpower for Technical Education and Vocational Training, and Ambassador of Egypt to the Sultanate.

Dr Khalid Abdel Ghaffar visited the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) and familiarised himself with the Omani and Islamic unique architectural designs of the mosque and ROHM.