Cairo University and Software Engineering Competence Center (SECC), affiliated to the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promulgate and implant open- source software in the university.
The Open-source software contributes to the optimum management of the university’s resources, in conformity with best practices of the software engineering field.
The MoU is in line with SECC role as a coordinator in activating Egypt's strategy of free open-source software under the ICT minister’s decree. According to the MoU, SECC provides consultations, technical expertise and best practices to Cairo University in all work phases, together with evaluating and testing project outcomes, and participating in providing training needs.
SECC Chairman and ITIDA Deputy CEO Hossam Osman has said that the MoU aims to meet Cairo University’s IT needs with high quality and low cost, making IT model at Cairo University an example to be followed at the State’s level. He has also pointed out that the MoU is the cornerstone in the framework of activating Egypt’s strategy in boosting and developing free open-source software in governmental entities.
The free and open source software refer to the software which source code can be viewed and edited. This software has gained a wide acceptance and support from individuals, companies and governments because of its inherent advantages over other programs that cannot be edited and which some call software monopoly.
SECC was established in June 2001 through MCIT efforts and concerns to support Egypt ICT industry. SECC became part of ITIDA organizational structure in 2005. It provides services of assessment, training and development as well as technical consultations to those working in ICT areas. Since its establishment, SECC has provided its services for more than 700 Egyptian companies, and trained more than 20,0000 trainees. The scope of its services covers the Gulf countries and the Middle East area.
