Get Ready: Egyptian Initiative to Boost Innovation and Technology

Be prepared…an Egyptian initiative to support innovation and technology

Innovation in the quality education sector is an essential tool for channeling human potential towards a more sustainable future, as investing in developing human skills and knowledge is key to stimulating economic growth. In light of the rapid transformations witnessed by the global labor market, it has become necessary to redesign education and training paths to be compatible with future needs and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In this context, the Ministry of Higher Education launched the second edition of the “Be Prepared” initiative, which aims to enhance the role of universities and academic institutions in building a new generation of qualified and creative young people. What are the details of this initiative? What are its objectives and implementation mechanisms? Could it really represent a qualitative shift in education and employment paths? This is what shedsEarth GuardsIt is highlighted in this article; So keep reading.

Under the slogan “One Million Qualified Innovators” (Be Ready – 1M), Dr. Ayman Ashour – Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research – launched the second version of the “Be Ready” initiative, which seeks to provide advanced technical training that focuses on developing basic skills, such as critical and creative thinking, and enhancing students’ abilities to analyze, innovate and solve problems, and its outcomes extend to include enabling young people to enter the labor market efficiently, and qualifying them for modern jobs that require digital and technological skills. Advanced.

This edition of the initiative witnesses the participation of a number of prominent international and regional bodies, such asInternational Labor Organization, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, andThe Islamic World Educational OrganizationScience and Culture (ISESCO), and the Global Innovation Institute, in addition to the Education Development Fund of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, and the United Nations Development Programme. This broad participation reflects a collective commitment towards empowering young people and preparing them for the rapid changes in the labor market.

Strategic vision for education and development

The transition from the study stage to the labor market is a path that requires integrated skills that ensure the sustainability of professional opportunities and the achievement of economic stability for individuals. In this context, the initiative works to provide qualification programs that keep pace with the continuous changes in the labor market, with a focus on providing career paths that are compatible with the requirements of the times in technology and innovation.

The Minister – Dr. Ayman Ashour – reviewed its objectives during the launch of the initiative, explaining that the focus is on preparing a millionStudents and recent graduates, through an integrated digital platform that supports young people and enables them to acquire the basic skills necessary to compete globally. He also pointed out the importance of coordination with employment centers at universities and academic institutions. In order to ensure that the largest possible number of students and graduates benefit, so that they are directly linked to labor market opportunities.

Dr. Ayman Farid – Assistant Minister for Strategic Planning and Preparation for the Labor Market – stressed the importance of the initiative in bridging the gap between educational outcomes and actual market requirements, stressing the importance of enhancing students’ digital and entrepreneurial skills, which contributes to providing broader opportunities for professional and economic growth.

Technical training that enhances innovative thinking

In order to achieve a comprehensive economic renaissance, it is not possible to limit ourselves to developing education and employment only, but rather we must invest in building an environmentIt supports innovation and keeps pace with industrial and technological transformations. Here the importance of infrastructure emerges as it is a fundamental pillar for the success of any economic or educational project or initiative. It is not possible to talk about development without an environment equipped with the latest technologies to accelerate the growth process.

Therefore, the “Be Prepared” initiative seeks to provide integration between the new skills that are instilled in young people and realistic industrial needs, which qualifies them to provide effective practical solutions that serve the local and international economy.

In this context, Mr. Eric Oechlin – Director ofInternational Labor Organization in Cairo – stresses the need to take into account technological changes in youth rehabilitation programs, and focus on integrating digital skills and modern technologies into training plans. To ensure their ability to compete in the global labor market.

International partnerships to drive innovation

The “Be Prepared” initiative comes in its second edition as part of the efforts of the Ministry of Higher Education to implement the goals of the “Alliance and Development” presidential initiative, which seeks to build the capabilities of one million young men and women, university students and recent graduates. These efforts focus on developing digital skills and promoting a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, which contributes to reducing the gap between educational outcomes and labor market needs, all within the framework of “Egypt Vision 2030” and the national strategy for higher education and scientific research.

This launch represents an extension of a comprehensive approach to support young people and provide them with the necessary skills that are compatible with the rapid developments in the labor market. After the success achieved by the pilot phase in 2023, which targeted about 18,000 students from 20 Egyptian universities, theThe new plan aims to cover a broader scope, targeting one million innovators, in a strategic step that strengthens the position of youth as a fundamental pillar of innovation and economic growth.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Dardari, Assistant Executive Director of the United Nations Development Programme, stressed the importance of international cooperation in supporting the qualification of young people and preparing them for the future labor market. He pointed out the need to enhance their capabilities through integrated projects that contribute to raising their efficiency and keeping pace with the requirements of the modern era.

Empowering youth in the digital labor market

With the increasing pace of global transformations and the digitization of all services and fields,The Earth Guards believes that attention is now turning to youth as they are the backbone of any ambitious development project. In light of the expansion of educational and rehabilitation initiatives, a role is emergingyouth; Because they are able to lead sustainable changes in societies.

True development is not built only with buildings or material resources, but rather through empowering individuals and enhancing their skills in the fields of innovation, technology and the digital economy, and this is confirmed byEarth Guards through its firm commitment to supporting initiatives that focus on preparing young people to be champions of the next stage; Because investing in people is the investment with the longest impact and most sustainable.