Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, indicated that his ministry is ready to develop creative collaboration and beneficial collaborations with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in higher education and scientific research. According to a Higher Education Ministry statement, Ashour made the statements during a meeting with Sean Jones, the new Mission Director for USAID in Egypt, and his accompanying entourage, in the presence of other ministry officials. The minister praised USAID's support for the National Strategy for Higher Education 2030, emphasizing the importance of internationalizing higher education and exchanging experience between Egyptian and American universities in order to achieve Egypt's Vision 2030 Sustainable Development Strategy.
Ashour claims that his ministry has established the Egyptian Initiative for Scholarships and Educational Tourism (EGYAID), which promotes Egypt as a top study destination for international students. The two sides discussed the most significant USAID-funded projects in higher education and scientific research in Egypt, such as the establishment of professional development centers at Egyptian universities, which is expected to increase to 46 centers in the next phase. These centers aim to enhance students' and graduates' professional abilities and skills to meet the demands of local, regional, and global labor markets. The pair also collaborated on the USAID Egyptian Pioneers Scholarship Program, which funds human cadres in the public and private sectors. Sean Jones, on the other hand, said that USAID is eager to strengthen collaboration with Egypt in several disciplines, notably higher education and research, which will help to achieve the goals of the National Strategy for Higher Education 2030.
