The Opening of "University Governance: A Key to Effective Higher Education Reform in Egypt" Conference
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Alexandria—Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Director of the Library of Alexandria, initiated on Monday, 26 March 2007, a three day Conference entitled "University Governance: A Key to Effective Higher Education Reform in Egypt". Both Dr. Hany Helal, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Dr. Hassan Nadeer, President of Alexandria University, participated in the opening session.
The session started with Dr. Seragedlin's address, in which he discussed the role of universities in our age, which cannot be limited to productive institutions, but should be extended to an institution founded on basis of dialogue, thought, and openness producing and disseminating knowledge and not just diploma mills. Dr. Seragedlin raised the issue of university autonomy, and the importance of striking a balance between transparency and control on one hand, and scientific production on the other. Dr. Seragedlin referred to scientific and technological development and the 21st century information and communication revolution posing new challenges on universities, as centers of science and knowledge.
Dr. Seragedlin stated that the most important challenge facing higher education in developing countries is governance, and the imbalance between decision-making and autonomy of education. He concluded his speech by referring to the role of digital libraries and how it complements that of universities.
Dr. Hassan Nadeer, President of Alexandria University, took the floor and spoke on the opposing relation between statistics that refer to the increase in Egyptian universities' budget on the one hand, and the backwardness of scientific production and deterioration of graduate students' levels on the other.
At the end of the session, Dr. Hany Helal, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, spoke on the necessity of solving the problems of higher education, which can be briefed in scientific backwardness, its failure to compete with international standards, lack of strategic planning, limited financial resources and technological capacities, and finally what he described as "our cultural perception" of universities and the inefficiency of higher education, which lacks actual academic value. He stressed that reform of higher education is not only limited to university governance, but requires joint efforts from the government, civil society, students themselves, and their expectations of their careers.