Addressing a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of AMIDEAST institution Tuesday, Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak said it is high time for Egypt to change its curricula passed on from one generation to another to cope with the challenges ahead.

"It is a pleasure to join you on this very special occasion, celebrating the 50th anniversary of AMIDEAST's presence in Egypt ; fifty years of fruitful collaboration where AMIDEAST has built bridges between Egypt and the US even during periods when relations were tenuous," Mrs. Mubarak opened her speech.

She said Egypt appreciates AMIDEAST's valuable contributions to its educational sector.

"Many Egyptian students have benefited from the scholarships that have enabled them to study in the US, realizing their dreams," she said.

"They have now returned home to take on their role in the development of our society!" she added.

Mrs. Mubarak hailed AMIDEAST's activities in the Business Intership program which "will help empower women and their work with the Future Generation Foundation and will help our young people with leadership and professional skills."

She also said that AMIDEAST has been a pivotal facilitator for dialogue and understanding based on mutual respect and recognition of "our differences as well as our accords."

Mrs. Mubarak said AMIDEAST symposium on "Egyptian Education and Training for the Global Economy", which opens Thursday, helps assess "how far we have come to date and surely to look forward to the future."

"There is no doubt that our world has been transformed by a technological and scientific revolution without parallel," she said.

"The new information and communication technologies (ICI) have transcended the boundaries of time and space, and linked us all into a seamless web of instantaneous communications."

"What is most dramatic is that these changes have occurred in just a few years. And every time we think we have mastered the skills required to use new technologies that enter the market, to our distress, we find they have become obsolete."