Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, opened the activities of an introductory workshop on the Egyptian Pioneers and Scholars Program under the title (Egypt's Pioneers and Scholars Program: Enhancing Partnership with the Public Sector) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the American University in Cairo (AUC), in cooperation with The Ministry, in the presence of Mr. Robert Bowers, Director of the Office of Education at the United States Agency for International Development, Dr. Ahmed Dallal, President of the American University in Cairo, Dr. Ayman Farid, Assistant Minister for Strategic Planning, Training and Qualification for the Labor Market, Dr. Ali Abusneh, CEO of the Environmental Affairs Agency and Assistant Minister of Environment for Projects, representing the Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Amal Mowafi, Director of the Egyptian Pioneers and Scholars Program, Dr. Mahmoud Saqr, President of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, Dr. Mostafa Refaat, Secretary of the Supreme Council of Universities, Dr. Mohamed Helmy Al-Ghar, Secretary of the Council of Private and Private Universities, Dr. Tarek Shawky, Advisor of the American University in Cairo and former Minister of Education and Technical Education, Dr. Mohamed Samir Hamza, head of the cultural affairs and missions sector in the ministry, Dr. Adel Abdel Ghaffar, media advisor and official spokesperson for the ministry, Dr. Dina Wafa, Deputy Director of the Pioneers and Scholars Program in Egypt, a group of heads of universities, centers, institutes, and research bodies, a number of ministry leaders, representatives of Egyptian ministries, and government cadres in the public and private sectors, in a hotel in Cairo.

At the beginning of his speech, the minister stressed the importance of this workshop, which comes within the framework of the National Strategy for Higher Education and Scientific Research 2030, which was launched on March 7; With the aim of activating the role of higher education and scientific research in building comprehensive development, which includes in its seven principles the integration between different institutions and communication through strengthening international and local cooperation and other basic principles that guarantee raising the quality of education, promoting scientific research and its applications, preparing graduates for the labor market, and ensuring reference and its effective role in building an economy based on knowledge and innovation.

Dr. pointed out. Ayman Ashour indicated that today we are about to launch the workshop on the Egyptian Pioneers and Scholars Program funded by the United States Agency for International Development, thanking the United States Agency for International Development for its support for the strategy of higher education and scientific research by supporting many programs and projects that contribute to the development of mechanisms to implement higher education strategies scientific research in Egypt, explaining that the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research cooperates with the American University in Cairo in its management and implementation, thanking the American University in Cairo for its efforts in cooperating with the ministry to implement the Egyptian Pioneers and Scholars Program, pointing out that the program includes grants to develop the capabilities of human cadres in the government and private sectors that are consistent with The goals of the national strategy for higher education and scientific research, stressing that today's workshop is one of the fruits of the continuous cooperation between the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the US Agency for International Development.

The minister added that the first batch of the program focuses on achieving Egypt's climate goals, as it is one of the most important challenges facing Egypt and the world today, as it includes vital sectors for comprehensive and sustainable economic growth in Egypt, including achieving the goals of women's empowerment, public health, digital transformation, climate goals, humanities, and other development goals, and this comes within the framework of Egypt's hosting of the COP27 Climate Conference recently in Sharm El-Sheikh, and its efforts to contribute to the COP28 Climate Conference in the Emirates.

Dr. Ayman Ashour emphasized the vital role of researchers and scientists in achieving the goals of the national strategy for higher education and scientific research, as well as in accelerating sustainable development efforts in line with the country's development plans, noting the importance of following the interdisciplinary approach, which is one of the basic principles of the higher education and scientific research strategy, so educational programs are offered that combine more than one specialization and support a graduate with the ability to solve complex problems. This approach is the basis for supporting the concept of integration between education, labor market requirements, and development plans at the economic, social, and environmental levels, stressing the necessity of translating scientific research outputs and transforming knowledge into practical experiences, it can be used in facing various development challenges; To build a resilient and sustainable society.

The minister stressed the importance of the returnees benefiting from the grants and training opportunities provided to enhance the capabilities of their colleagues and disseminate the knowledge they gained during the program. Therefore, beneficiary agencies must ensure that strategies and mechanisms for the reintegration of returnees are put in place. This is to maximize the benefit from their expertise and skills, transfer and localize expertise, ensure maximum and optimal benefit from the program, build the national economy, and achieve a return on investment.

In conclusion of his speech, Dr. Ayman Ashour invited participants from public and private universities, Egyptian ministries, and affiliated bodies to complete the form for expressing interest in joining the program, participate in the discussions held today, and identify priority sectors for their affiliates, and their capacity-building plan; With the aim of enrolling distinguished government cadres from various institutions in the program and benefiting from it.

For his part, Robert Bowers praised the close and continuous partnership and cooperation between USAID and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, noting that the total funding provided by USAID to advance the education sector in Egypt over the past forty years amounts to about $1.8 billion, which contributed to modernizing educational curricula and providing professional guidance to thousands of students. The agency also partnered with a number of leading public universities in Egypt to modernize degree programs and promote applied research in priority sectors. In addition to providing many training opportunities and scholarships for more than 20,000 students and professionals, explaining that the Egyptian Pioneers and Scholars Program provides government officials in Egypt with many training opportunities and grants that contribute to the development of strategic policies and practices. To meet the challenges facing the achievement of development goals, pointing out that in light of cooperation with the Ministries of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and International Cooperation, priority sectors have been identified, especially in the field of climate change, which the world is witnessing now.

Robert Bowers added that the program aims to provide 700 scholarships for Egyptian youth from the communities most in need to obtain university degrees in Egypt, 500 short-term training scholarships in Egypt and the United States of America for cadres of the public and private sectors, 60 master's degrees to build cadres for future leaders in the Egyptian government sector, and 50 postdoctoral scholarships in the United States of America to build cadres for future leaders in the Egyptian government sector.

For his part, Dr. Ahmed Dalal confirmed that the Egyptian Pioneers and Scholars Program is one of the largest projects through which the American University in Cairo has achieved its role as an educational institution in serving the Egyptian community by building a more comprehensive, skilled workforce and the ability to support vital sectors for economic growth in Egypt, which will have a positive impact on Egyptian society, by advancing economic and social development and achieving Egypt's Vision 2030, noting that the program's goals are in line with the university's values by focusing on women's empowerment, diversity, inclusiveness, and flexibility while giving priority to projects related to climate change.

Dr. Dalal added that the Egyptian Pioneers and Scholars Program is an extension of what the American University in Cairo is doing in managing a number of programs in cooperation with the United States Agency for International Development and in partnership with Egyptian ministries and governorates, government universities, and research centers. To contribute to the national efforts in facing the development priorities in Egypt, and to qualify young cadres capable of pushing the country to progress and facing the challenges of this age.

For his part, Dr. Ayman Farid indicated that the objectives of the workshop are consistent with the National Strategy for Higher Education and Scientific Research (Egypt Vision 2030), which was launched by the Ministry last March and includes among its seven principles the concept of communication and international cooperation as one of its core elements, emphasizing the strengthening of the extended and effective partnership with the United States Agency for International Development through the Egypt Pioneers and Scholars Program, which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development and implemented by the American University in Cairo in cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, explaining that the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research is moving rapidly towards developing the quality of higher education, and strengthening scientific research efforts in line with the country's development priorities, adding that today we are about to launch the Egyptian Pioneers and Scholars Program; With the aim of introducing the program and encouraging distinguished cadres to take advantage of the opportunities presented, pointing out that we will learn about the results of the report on the analysis of priority sectors related to climate action, which are the sectors that we aspire to target at the level of academic and training programs that will be provided by the program.

Dr. Ayman Farid added that we look forward to getting to know the opinions of the participants in the workshop activities and their proposals regarding the academic topics that serve the national development strategies, as well as the plans and strategies of its affiliates. To build the capacities of workers in the government sector in order to develop their job skills, during the discussion sessions that will be held throughout the day, pointing out that a form (expressing desire to join the program) will be presented, which is a prerequisite for applying to the Egyptian Pioneers and Scholars Program, as well as the criteria for enrolling in scholarships and training opportunities provided by the Egyptian Pioneers and Scholars Program, and the future steps that must be followed to ensure the participation of workers in its affiliated bodies in these grants.

On the sidelines of the workshop, advisory sessions were held with representatives of government agencies participating in the workshop. To review the results of the sectoral analysis of the Egyptian Pioneers and Scholars Program, and to discuss priority sectors for government agencies, targeted capacity-building programs for government agencies, as well as to identify their proposals and recommendations regarding academic sectors and specializations related to climate change, which contribute to achieving the goals of development and climate change in Egypt.

The workshop also included a presentation on the "Expression of Interest" model, which is a prerequisite for allowing requests to join government agencies to participate in the program, including ministries and their affiliated bodies, public and private universities, and research centers. In addition to discussing the criteria necessary to join the Egyptian Pioneers and Scholars Program, including English language proficiency, and academic experience in the chosen field of study, especially since the Egyptian Pioneers and Scholars Program gives priority to geographical diversity, and includes women and persons with disabilities, as well as presenting the preliminary results of the sector evaluation report, which was conducted to identify sectors related to climate change, which have a high priority for achieving Egypt's development goals related to climate change.

It is worth noting that the nine-year Egyptian Pioneers and Scholars Program is funded by the United States Agency for International Development with $86 million and implemented by the American University in Cairo in cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and in coordination with the Ministry of International Cooperation.