Cairo: EgyPulse – News Desk
Egypt’s Minister of Education and Technical Education, Mohamed Abdel Latif, met today with the new Italian Ambassador to Cairo, Agostino Palese, to discuss advancing joint cooperation, particularly in technical education and the expansion of Applied Technology Schools (ATS).
At the start of the meeting, the Minister underscored the depth of Egyptian-Italian relations across various sectors, highlighting the rapidly accelerating cooperation in technical education. This collaboration aligns with Egypt’s strategic move to adopt global standards in training, qualification, and linking education directly to the international labor market.
The Minister confirmed that the Ministry is actively implementing a comprehensive cooperation model with the Italian side through the Applied Technology Schools (ATS) system. This effort is coordinated with Italian Industrial Education and Training institutions (ITS), as part of the Ministry’s plan to enhance the efficiency of technical education, develop curricula, and refine training and evaluation programs to meet international job market requirements.
Minister Abdel Latif emphasized that professional evaluation and accreditation are core components of this system. Graduates will receive certificates recognized under Italian standards, significantly enhancing their employment prospects both domestically and internationally.
The Minister revealed that the Ministry has already signed cooperation agreements with the Italian side to launch ten Applied Technology Schools across multiple specializations as a first phase of this ambitious project. These fields include Medical Technology and Electrical Engineering. The Ministry plans to expand this partnership by establishing more schools in collaboration with relevant Italian institutions in the near future.
This collaboration is framed within the Ministry’s broader efforts to develop the entire technical education system, which currently encompasses 1,270 technical schools nationwide. This development relies on adopting international curricula, training programs, and certifications, confirming that the Egyptian experience is rapidly progressing alongside similar cooperation projects with countries like Germany and Singapore.
Ambassador Palese praised the comprehensive development and ambitious vision currently characterizing Egypt’s technical education system, noting its alignment with international standards. He affirmed Italy’s strong commitment to enhancing cooperation in technical and vocational training.
The Ambassador stressed that Italy is keen to continue providing the necessary technical support and expertise through its specialized Industrial and Technical Education institutions (ITS). This commitment aims to effectively transfer distinguished Italian expertise into the Egyptian technical education system, reflecting a shared vision for elevating vocational education quality to serve the interests of both countries.
The Minister concluded by stressing that the Egyptian system is adopting a clear approach to make its technical education on par with the systems implemented in Italian technical schools, viewing the Italian model as a benchmark for quality, discipline, and practical application, particularly in key sectors like Tourism and Hospitality, which are essential pillars of the national economy.
