Egypt opens AI university courses to tech school grads
Graduates of technical and applied technology schools now admissible
#EGYPT #AI - Egypt's Supreme Council of Universities has approved direct university admission for technical school graduates to computer science and artificial intelligence faculties for the first time, ending a longstanding barrier that previously required complex equivalency processes. The decision covers graduates from technical schools specialising in computer and AI technologies, applied technology schools including state telecommunications company Telecom Egypt's WE ICT Schools for Applied Technology, and introduces a flexible quota system for vocational students. Cairo-based Ministry of Education and Technical Education coordinated with Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research under Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly's supervision to enable technical students to compete directly for university places in AI and computer science programmes.
SO WHAT? - This reform dismantles Egypt's longstanding educational hierarchy that restricted university computer science and AI programmes exclusively to Thanaweya Amma certificate holders, replacing complex equivalency processes with direct competitive admission for technical graduates. Students from AI-focused technical schools can now compete directly for AI faculty places through tailored admission tracks, fundamentally expanding educational and career horizons for vocational students previously excluded from higher education pathways. The move could result in a significant new stream of AI students entering Egypt’s talent pipeline.
Here is some more information about the new university rules:
Egypt's Supreme Council of Universities approved direct university admission for technical school graduates to computer science and AI faculties, eliminating previous equivalency requirements that created educational barriers.
The policy covers graduates from five-year technical schools, three-year technical schools, applied technology schools, and two-year post-secondary technical institutes specialising in computer and AI technologies.
Applied technology schools expanded from three institutions in 2018 to 70 across 19 governorates by 2024, with plans to reach 90 schools by the 2025/2026 academic year.
WE ICT Schools for Applied Technology, launched in 2020 by Ministry of Communications and Information Technology with Telecom Egypt, represent Egypt's first smart institutions specialising in communications technology.
Students receive internationally accredited certificates, work experience certificates from partner companies, and professional certifications from leading ICT companies alongside traditional technical diplomas.
The flexible quota system creates separate minimum thresholds based on applicant numbers in each technical category, enabling competitive admission tracks tailored to vocational graduates.
Applied technology schools operate on competency-based curricula combining basic sciences, technical specialisation, and hands-on practical training delivered through partnerships with private and public sector companies.
Admission to applied technology schools requires competitive selection based on preparatory certificate results, entrance exams in Arabic, English and Mathematics, plus personal interviews with school administrators and industry partners.
ZOOM OUT - Egypt's educational reform aligns with broader Middle Eastern efforts to bridge vocational training and higher education, as regional governments recognise technical skills gaps in AI and computer science sectors. Similar initiatives across the Gulf states and Jordan demonstrate growing recognition that traditional academic pathways cannot meet rapidly expanding technology workforce demands, with vocational-to-university bridges becoming essential for digital transformation strategies and addressing youth employment challenges in technology sectors.
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]