Egypt to spend EGP 30 bn on new non-profit universities: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has directed his government to earmark EGP 30 bn for a government program to set up state-run non-profit universities and colleges, Ittihadiya said in a statement. Those universities will be built on land owned by the New Urban Communities Authority. The aim of setting up this new type of institution is to improve Egypt’s capacity to produce advanced degree holders, especially in the technology sector, according to El Sisi’s orders.

Background: The government has recently introduced amendments (pdf) to the Private and Nonprofit Universities Act (pdf) to allow state universities to set up non-profit arms. Those arms will be positioned to compete with private universities and other non-profit institutions, Sedik Abdel Salam, who heads the ministry’s council for private universities, told Enterprise earlier this year. Each of Cairo, Alexandria, Zagazig, Assiut, Suez Canal, and Minya universities are expected to inaugurate new non-profit affiliates within the next two academic years, Abdel Salam said then. According to yesterday’s statement, other universities will also be set up in east Ismailia and Port Said’s Salam City.