Key Achievements
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A historic expansion in higher education institutions, increasing from 56 to 129 universities, reflecting a comprehensive transformation in education, research, and innovation.
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Significant progress in global university rankings and international research collaboration.
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Unprecedented growth in international branch campuses, academic programs, and cooperation agreements, strengthening the internationalization of higher education in Egypt.
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Egypt reinforces its position as a regional education hub, hosting 198,000 international students from 119 countries.
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Major expansion of healthcare services through university hospitals, increasing from 88 to 147 hospitals.
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Egyptian universities promote social inclusion by empowering students with disabilities and advancing equal opportunities.
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Remarkable growth in student activities and university sports, reflecting enhanced infrastructure and growing international confidence.
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Egypt advances to 25th globally in international scientific publishing.
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Establishment of a national genetic database through the Egyptian and Ancient Egyptian Reference Genome Project.
Egypt’s higher education and scientific research system has received unprecedented support under the leadership of H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, enabling substantial progress in university expansion, scientific research, university hospitals, international partnerships, and global rankings, while supporting Egypt's transition toward a knowledge- and innovation-based economy.
Prof. Abdelaziz Konsowa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, praised the remarkable achievements realized by the sector over recent years, emphasizing that these accomplishments were made possible through the continuous support of the political leadership. This support has facilitated ambitious projects aimed at modernizing higher education, expanding educational opportunities, improving the quality of academic and research services, and enhancing the regional and global competitiveness of Egyptian higher education and research institutions.
The Minister noted that the Ministry's future vision focuses on building a higher education and research system that is more responsive to national development priorities and global trends. This vision includes modernizing academic programs to meet labor market demands, expanding international partnerships, increasing joint degree programs and international branch campuses, strengthening scientific research and innovation, fostering stronger links between research and industry, localizing advanced technologies, promoting entrepreneurship, and equipping students and researchers with future-ready skills to support a competitive knowledge-based economy.
Dr. Adel Abdel Ghaffar, Media Advisor and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry, stated that both national and international indicators demonstrate the unprecedented development achieved between 2013 and 2026. During this period, the total number of universities and higher education institutions increased from 56 to 129. Government universities expanded from 23 to 28, private universities from 23 to 36, and national (non-profit) universities from 4 to 32. Technological universities were introduced for the first time, reaching 14 institutions by 2026, with rapidly increasing student enrollment, reinforcing their role in preparing graduates for the evolving labor market.
The spokesperson added that Egypt significantly expanded the internationalization of higher education through the establishment of nine international branch campuses and increasing universities established through international agreements from two to six. The country also continued investing in advanced technical education, with 208 private higher institutes serving engineering, business, media, healthcare, agriculture, tourism, and service sectors, further diversifying higher education pathways.
As part of Egypt's strategy to strengthen its position as a regional and international destination for higher education, the number of international students reached approximately 198,000, including 138,000 enrolled in higher education institutions, representing 119 nationalities. Medical disciplines remained the most popular among international students, followed by engineering, while Egypt continued attracting students from Arab, African, Asian, and European countries, reflecting growing international confidence in Egyptian higher education.
Egyptian universities and research institutions have also achieved significant progress in international rankings, demonstrating continuous improvements in academic quality and research excellence. In 2026, 45 Egyptian universities were included in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, while the 2025 Clarivate Journal Citation Reports (JCR) indexed 60 Egyptian scientific journals. The latest edition of the QS World University Rankings included 18 Egyptian universities and higher education institutions, while 29 Egyptian universities appeared in the U.S. News Best Global Universities Rankings 2026–2027, further strengthening Egypt's international academic standing.
International cooperation has also witnessed remarkable growth through Egypt's participation in the Horizon Europe Programme, expanded engagement in the PRIMA initiative, and the signing of dozens of cooperation agreements with countries including France, Germany, South Korea, and Russia. These collaborations have resulted in the implementation of 80 joint academic projects, reflecting increasing international confidence in Egypt's higher education system.
University hospitals have experienced significant development during the period from 2013 to 2026. Their number increased from 88 to 147 hospitals, while their annual budget rose from EGP 10 billion to EGP 28 billion. Collectively, these hospitals provided healthcare services to more than 32 million patients within a single year and performed hundreds of thousands of surgical procedures, reinforcing their vital role within Egypt's healthcare system.
In promoting social inclusion, Egyptian universities have made substantial progress in supporting students with disabilities through the establishment of 20 specialized support centers, the launch of the Presidential Initiative "Tamkeen" (Empowerment), and the provision of comprehensive academic and support services to ensure equal participation and success within university life.
Student engagement has also reached unprecedented levels. More than 100,000 students participated in the "100 Days of Sports" initiative, while Egyptian universities achieved numerous successes in Arab, African, and international competitions. Egypt is also preparing to host the Cairo 2026 African University Games alongside several major international sporting events, reflecting the country's advanced sports infrastructure and growing international confidence in its organizational capabilities.
Scientific research in Egypt has recorded remarkable international progress. Research collaboration now extends to 213 countries, while Egyptian researchers published more than 116,000 internationally indexed research papers between 2019 and 2024. The number of Egyptian researchers registered in the Scopus database has exceeded 140,000, with approximately 78% of Egyptian publications appearing in prestigious Q1 and Q2 international journals. Furthermore, 1,106 Egyptian scientists were included among the world's top 2% of scientists according to Stanford University rankings. Annual international research output has increased from approximately 16,000 publications to more than 45,000, placing Egypt 25th globally in international scientific publishing.
Egypt also achieved a major scientific milestone with the announcement of the results of the Egyptian and Ancient Egyptian Reference Genome Project, which analyzed more than 1,024 samples collected from 21 governorates and identified nearly 17 million genetic variants. Future plans include sequencing 25,000 Egyptian genomes and establishing the National Genome Center, providing a comprehensive national genetic reference to support precision medicine and advanced biomedical research.
The spokesperson further highlighted the achievements of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, which recorded more than 78 major accomplishments within a single year and organized over 45 international scientific events involving participants from more than 80 countries, strengthening Egypt's position as a regional center for research and innovation. Egypt ranked 86th globally in the Global Innovation Index and was listed among the top 50 countries worldwide in the U.S. News 2026 Most Influential Countries in Creative Fields ranking, reflecting growing national capabilities in innovation, intellectual property, and scientific creativity.
Efforts to strengthen links between scientific research and industry have produced several notable outcomes, including the production of Egypt's first locally manufactured electric vehicles, the development of internationally certified ventilators, domestic production of silymarin for liver disease treatment, the development of new garlic and cowpea varieties to support food security, and the implementation of smart agriculture and aquaculture projects. These initiatives demonstrate the growing contribution of scientific research to sustainable development and the advancement of Egypt's knowledge-based economy.
