Mubarak and Schroeder ..
Open the German University in Cairo

When distinguished leaders, like President Mubarak and the German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, are keen on attending the inauguration of a huge educational entity as the German University in Cairo (GUC) personally, such event, ipso facto, goes far beyond the scenes of the inauguration ceremony. It is closer to be a serious turning point towards the future.

Both leaders inaugurated the GUC in one of the most cultural, scientific and academic events in the region along the past years. This inauguration is a clear message for the cultural openness that Egypt enjoys, and through which it opens her doors for the various cultural and civilizational trends. Moreover, the inauguration affirms Egypt's conviction of the private sector's role and the State's readiness to support any serious step in the field of education. Furthermore, Egypt expects such sector to play an effective role that corresponds with her attention.

Meaning and Significance

The introductions that preceded the inauguration focused on the following meanings and significances:

First: Egypy paid due attention, on the official level, to the establishment of the German University that contributed to saving years of construction after issuing the presidential decree in this respect. Dr. Mufid Shehab, the Minister of Higher Education and of the State for Scientific Research, expressed his deep appreciation for the feasibility studies conducted and described them as the most comprehensive and detailed that have been presented to the Board of Private Universities .

Second: The GUC gained unprecedented honour due to its being with Mubarak and Schroeder. No other previous Egyptian university, whether private or governmental, has gained the honour of its inauguration by the president in person. That shouldering the GUC additional burdens. The most important of which is to be an international example for a modern university and to present a tangible addition for the governmental and the private university entities in Egypt. Although study at the French University has already started last year, however, the echoes of President Mubarak's inauguration of the GUC was behind Frances request for his formal inauguration of the French University next year.

Third: The unprecedented concern of the German scientific and educational academic bodies expresses a perspective that "German" is not a mere description or a name for the university, rather it is an identity, personality, culture and a strong relation between the university and Germany; government, countries, universities, ministries, and institutions.

Fourth: During a number of meetings, many German prominent figures were keen to make clear that cooperation between the Egyptian and German bodies is developing within the framework of one coherent system and perfect coordination, in order to ensure success for the university.

Such cooperation was clear through the activities of the German academic institutions in Germany and their branches in Egypt. On top of these institutions is the German institution for scientific exchange which Cairo office manager described as follows: The inauguration of the GUC is a crowning for Goethe Institute.

Fifth: The univeristy's keenness on the applicable aspect is embodied through the actual partnership , contribution, participation and the support that the university enjoys from companies, institutions and various German academic entities inside Germany that extend their activities inside Egypt through different branches.

Such applicable aspect will provide the students with opportunities for training in these institutions during their academic years, in addition to providing them with job opportunities after graduation whether in Germany or in Egypt.

Sixth: Selecting Cairo for the first German university to be built outside Germany reflects Germany's vision that realizes Egypt's position and her prominent, historic and scientific role in the region. The GUC shall also contribute to present a new model for a modern university. The success of such model will be the first step for establishing other German universities abroad.

Seventh: The establishment of the GUC achieves the required diversity among cultures and the various kinds of university and academic education in Egypt. Such diversity is embodied in the establishment of a number of universities; e.g. The American Univeristy in Cairo (AUC) at least 75 years ago, the other private universities that use English for teaching are, the French University and the British University which is still underway.

It also ensures the balance between various intellectual and scientific trends in Egypt. The previous concept, according to university officials in Egypt and Germany, does not contradict with using English for teaching. The German methodology in the university is represented in programmes, curricula, teaching systems, examinations, administration and close academic relations with Ulm and Stuttgart universities, so that students at the GUC would follow the same curricula and study the scientific content as German students do. However, after all the stages are completed, study there will be in Deutsch.

Eighth: The academic and administrative cooperation with Ulm and Stuttgart universities will provide the GUC with full equality with other German universities. German professors will undertake at least 50 % of the teaching tasks, and graduates will be granted an accredited certificate recognized by all German and Egyptian universities and shall be offered job opportunities, whether in Egypt or in Germany, in addition to Master's Degrees and PhDs in any university inside both countries.

Ninth: The keenness of the university officials in Egypt and Germany to make the inauguration ceremony reflect a more comprehensive cultural vision in the field of university education has been embodied in a cultural and artistic celebration attended by Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, concomitant with the inauguration of the university. The celebration included music and opera shows with the participation of the Opera House, Goethe Institute, the German Institute for Scientific Exchange and the Egyptian-German Commercial Chamber.

Faculty Members

According to the university strategy towards faculty members, precise standards were set for selecting faculty members from the most distinguished cadres of specialized Egyptian and German professors. A specialized committee from the sponsoring German universities will assume such tasks to ensure careful and meticulous selection, so as to establish a powerful and balanced educational system from homogeneous working groups that include a Fifty-fifty German and Egyptian professors and researchers. This will ensure a comprehensive quality system through applying international standards.

It is said that the inauguration of the GUC constitutes an additional meeting point in dialogue and cooperation among cultures and civilizations.