LEGISLATION WATCH- New Foreign Campuses Act widens Higher Education Ministry’s oversight: The draft of a new act, which sets the rules for foreign universities opening campuses in Egypt, appears to give the Higher Education Ministry sweeping oversight powers, according to a leaked copy of the act published by Al Ahram. Under the new law, the ministry will be represented on the boards of these campuses as well as have a say in selecting university presidents. The ministry’s permission must be sought before setting tuition hikes.

The law effectively turns local campuses into franchises. Under the law, a foreign university must partner with an Egyptian entity, which will handle both developing the property and the day-to-day administration of the campuses. The foreign universities themselves will be represented on the board of trustees. By law, half of the students attending the campus will be Egyptian, who may only be charged tuition in EGP. The law, which was approved by the Ismail Cabinet last month, has been sent to the House of Representatives for approval.