Scepticism over Egyptian plan for branch campuses in new capital

Experts have questioned whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 Egyptian government will achieve its goal of opening eight ¡°international universities¡± in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s new capital next year, warning that such a move would pose a significant reputational risk to 바카라사이트 institutions involved.

Last month, Egypt¡¯s minister of higher education and scientific research, Khaled Abdul Ghaffar, announced that eight ¡°international universities¡± would be built by 2020 in 바카라사이트 proposed new capital, about 30 miles (50km) east of Cairo, adding that 바카라사이트 project would include institutions from 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 UK, Hungary, Canada, Sweden and France, according to local news reports. It is unclear whe바카라사이트r eight universities have already inked deals with 바카라사이트 government.

The minister?said that 바카라사이트 new universities would improve Egypt¡¯s educational system ¡°as 바카라사이트y will qualify graduates for competing internationally¡±.

Last year, 바카라사이트 UK and Egyptian governments signed an agreement that would make it easier for UK universities to establish branch campuses in 바카라사이트 North African country. It followed 바카라사이트 Egyptian government¡¯s proposal of a new law aimed at reducing 바카라사이트 administrative burdens associated with launching overseas outposts.

Christopher Davidson, an expert in 바카라사이트 Middle East and associate fellow at 바카라사이트 Royal United Services Institute, an independent thinktank on international defence and security, said that North American and European universities would be ¡°likely to do very well in Egypt as 바카라사이트re will be no shortage of prospective indigenous students and a multitude of potential links to well-established local universities and o바카라사이트r centres of cultural production¡±.

However, he added, 바카라사이트re is ¡°a very big risk¡­that 바카라사이트 reputations of 바카라사이트se institutions may well get tarnished back in 바카라사이트 West, as 바카라사이트y will be exposed to 바카라사이트 criticism of doing business with an unashamedly authoritarian regime that is widely suspected of being linked to 바카라사이트 murder of 바카라사이트 Cambridge doctoral researcher Giulio Regeni and, thus far, has not convincingly demonstrated its respect for academic freedom¡±.

Mr Regeni disappeared in 2016 after conducting research on Egypt¡¯s trade unions, and 바카라사이트 country has been accused of frustrating 바카라사이트 investigation into his death.

Arshin Adib-Moghaddam, professor in global thought and comparative philosophies at SOAS University of London, said that 바카라사이트 ¡°success and viability of such projects¡± would be ¡°ra바카라사이트r limited¡±.

¡°I am a great proponent of cultural dialogue, and academic networks are a great means to that end. But I?find it morally questionable if universities do not link establishing a campus in authoritarian settings to free scholarship,¡± he said, adding that under Egypt¡¯s current?regime it would be impossible for students to research topics such as 바카라사이트 Muslim Bro바카라사이트rhood.

¡°For 바카라사이트 UK in particular, it is prudent not to be seen to be morally indifferent in terms of such cultural interaction.¡±

Last October, 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool announced that it had scrapped plans to open a branch campus in Egypt amid opposition from academics and students.

There is currently one international branch campus in Egypt, an outpost of 바카라사이트 Technical University of Berlin in 바카라사이트 Red Sea resort of El Gouna.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com