Egypt

New German and French Universities Accused of Elitism

The German University in Cairo (GUC) is scheduled to open Oct. 2003 — with English as its main language of instruction.

The project received €600,000 from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and start up capital from 40 Egyptian investors to the tune of €15 million.

The university’s enrollment goal of 5,000 students over the first five years is part of an effort by the German Ministry of Education to promote its tertiary institutions abroad, especially in developing nations.

All courses and degrees at the university are technical subjects, and although they will be taught in English, German as a second language will be heavily promoted. Fees will be about €5,000 a year.

There have been criticisms in the Egyptian press that the university and another new private venture, a French University in Cairo, will cater only to the elite. In response German officials who have stated that scholarships will be made available to highly gifted students with limited means. Students receiving financial aid should make up about 10 percent of the student population.

The bachelors and masters degrees will be recognized in Germany and should be accredited in the European Union under the 1999 Bologna Declaration.