The Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Khaled Abdel Ghaffar and the Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat have witnessed, via videoconference, the signing of a cooperation protocol between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and Tanta University, in the presence of the President of Tanta University Mahmoud Zaki.
The protocol is aimed at establishing CREATIVA Innovation Hub at Tanta University to upskill and qualify students and graduates at Tanta University and nearby universities for the local and global ICT and entrepreneurship labor markets.
Abdel Ghaffar praised the signing of the protocol, which comes as a continuation of the cooperation among the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Egyptian universities and MCIT. The cooperation is aimed at establishing CREATIVA Innovation Hubs in Egyptian universities, helping raising awareness of the advancements of ICT and its specializations, among university students, equipping them with in-demand skills in this field, and qualifying young people to specialize in digital transformation, in line with the requirements of the labor market in ICT and entrepreneurship.
Moreover, Abdel Ghaffar praised the selection of Tanta University, which is located in the middle of the Delta region and serves a large residential area. He pointed out that the selection comes to expand the participation of Egyptian universities in providing services to surroundings areas.
Abdel Ghaffar called for organizing joint field visits, in cooperation with MCIT, to the CREATIVA Innovation Hubs that are being established within the framework of the cooperation protocol between the two parties to follow up on their work, fulfil the conditions for their establishment, and equip them with the capabilities necessary to ensure that they fulfill their role.
Furthermore, Abdel Ghaffar thanked MCIT for its cooperation in establishing CREATIVA Innovation Hubs within Egyptian universities. He pointed to the continuation of this cooperation to reach all Egyptian universities in different governorates, and to achieve the goal of establishing a Hub in each university.
For his part, Talaat said he was pleased to witness the signing of the protocol with Tanta University, which has a base of trained young people. He explained that the cooperation is aimed at providing technical training and fostering technological innovation for university students and graduates, within the framework of the productive cooperation between MCIT and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to establish CREATIVA Innovation Hubs in universities. He pointed out that efforts continue to establish a hub in each governorate. Seven CREATIVA Innovation Hubs were established last year, and 14 others are currently being established.
Talaat added that the Hubs are aimed at creating a skill pool in ICT, in addition to creating an environment conducive to creativity and entrepreneurship, while providing specialized training for employees at startups, and setting up networking forums for entrepreneurs and investors.
Moreover, Talaat highlighted that CREATIVA Innovation Hubs are being established within or near universities to achieve integration with academia in a way that enriches the training process, helps hone youth’s experiences, and enhances the university’s role in creating innovative solutions that serve the economy in the governorates where the Hubs are located, and address societal challenges.
For his part, the President of Tanta University thanked the Ministry of Higher Education and MCIT for their continuous support in establishing CREATIVA Innovation Hub, and his happiness that Tanta University has joined the project. He stressed his keenness to establish the Hub with the highest quality.
Zaki, also, stated that the University has provided the facilities necessary to implement the project and the necessary support in terms of materials and people, for the Hub to provide services to the University’s students and qualify young people to specialize in digital transformation. He added that the protocol is aimed at qualifying university students for the local and global labor markets, and preparing human calibers capable of supporting and developing the ICT industry, in addition to promoting technological innovation and entrepreneurship.
The protocol is aimed at establishing and operating a permanent premises as CREATIVA Innovation Hub, at Tanta University’s campus, with the aim of qualifying young students and graduates at Tanta University and nearby universities for the local and international labor markets.
Furthermore, the protocol targets preparing human calibers that can contribute to supporting and developing the ICT industry, and providing specialized training services to help faculty members in relevant faculties become trainers. The protocol will also help raise awareness and introduce the latest ICT developments, technologies, specializations, and in-demand skills; promote technological innovation and entrepreneurship, and organize conferences, hackathons and competitions in the latest technologies to support the exchange of knowledge and creativity.
The protocol is, also, aimed at supporting the transformation of young people’s innovative ideas in ICT into commercial products or services, with a special focus on students, graduates, and faculty members at Tanta University, as part of the Hub’s work plan. This is in addition to developing learning and training methods through the innovative use of ICT.
The protocol was signed by Deputy ICT Minister for Infrastructure Raafat Hindy and the President of Tanta University Mahmoud Zaki.
From MCIT, the CEO of the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) Amr Mahfouz, the Director of the National Telecommunication Institute (NTI) Iman Ashour, the Chairwoman of Information Technology Institute (ITI) Heba Saleh attended the signing ceremony via videoconference.
Assistant Minister of Higher Education for Digital Transformation Hesham Farouk attended the ceremony, as well.
