Report: New procedures for Somali and Hungarian students enrolled at Egyptian universities

Cairo- Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Dr. Khalid Abdul Ghaffar received a report from Dr. Hossam Al-Mallahi, First Under-Secretary for state cultural relations, missions and university affairs, on the procedures taken by the Department of Expatriates Affairs to facilitate the educational process for Somali and Hungarian students studying in Egypt.

The report made note of the meeting of Cultural Relations and Missions Department with Mrs. Nasra Mohamed Ahmed, Cultural Attaché of Somalia in Cairo, and Dr. Mariana Fa, Cultural Counselor of Hungary in Cairo, to discuss the mechanisms of boosting cooperation with Somalia and Hungary, especially in the field of higher education. This was in the presence of Dr. Howaida Ismail, head of Central Department of Expatriates Affairs.

Regarding the Somali side, the report pointed out that the possibility of placing Somali students on scholarships and sending them to various Egyptian universities has been discussed. On its part, the Egyptian side pointed out that the new system for enrolling students in grants will be based on the university; and that there will be between five to seven universities for Somali student placements.  The report states that diversity of university placements is due to the high selectivity of some universities, on the one hand, and the lack of capacity and means that make it difficult for those universities to enroll all students, on the other. The embassy will be in charge of spreading students to different universities.

Additionally, the two sides also discussed ways to facilitate the administrative procedures for Somali students and to speed up the admission and enrollment process. This will be of great help to students to attend regularly and follow up with their curricula, the report advised. The report also stressed the need that the embassy representative stays in touch with the General Department of Expatriates Affairs so as to solve all the problems encountering Somali students during their stay of study in Egypt.

Concerning the Hungarian side, the report added that ways to surmount difficulties faced by Hungarian students studying in Egyptian universities have also been discussed. On its part, the Egyptian side requested that the documents of Hungarian students under grants in Egyptian universities be sent quickly so that they could register fast enough to help them attend school and focus on their studies.

Lastly, the Somali and Hungarian sides thanked the Egyptian side for its role in assisting and supporting Somali and Hungarian students studying in Egyptian universities, solving the problems encountering them and providing them with safety and security.