13/8/2020
Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar reviewed, during the meeting, the axes of digital transformation
projects for higher education institutions, which include the mechanization and digitization of 27 government universities and Al-Azhar University, at a cost of LE 4.722 billion, and 4
private universities: Galala University, King Salman International University, El Alamein
University, and Mansoura University. New, at a cost of 1.514 billion pounds, as well as a
number of universities and private institutes.
The Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research added that the digital
transformation projects for universities are based on six axes, the first axis being the
establishment of a smart campus through training work teams in public universities, and
assessing the capabilities of all public universities to digital transformation into a smart
university, as the universities of Benha and Mansoura were chosen as a stage. The first is to
start assessing the current situation of the university’s capabilities, raising the efficiency of
human energy, and in this context the technical study and plans for implementing training
programs have been prepared. Training schedules are being drawn up, and smart entry contro
l by identifying students from the face print and access control for any college and knowing
places Presence in lecture halls and laboratories to implement the rules of social distancing
and to implement the attendance and departure system.
As for the second axis, it is the conduct of electronic tests, and in this regard the Minister of
Higher Education and Scientific Research indicated that this axis will take place in two
phases, explaining that with regard to the first phase, it is that the specification brochure for
the programs has been completed and presented to companies and the technical evaluation
has been completed. Hardware and software will be supplied and installed for 38 electronic
test centers in 27 governmental universities and Al-Azhar University, and the supply and
installation of hardware and software for the main and reserve information center, as well as
the supply of programs for exams and question banks for five program packages distributed
over four sectors of the universities and a central sector of the unified bank. Question banks,
while faculty members will be trained to prepare questions as of next September, and
applications for tests and integration with information systems in universities will be run as
universities are ready to hold electronic exams in April 2021, and the technical and financial
study for the second phase has been prepared, and the implementation will take place as soon
as the phase is operational First.
Abdel Ghaffar explained that the third axis of digital transformation projects is the
establishment of electronic platforms and portals, which are represented in: the unified portal
for universities, which is a unified portal for Egyptian universities and communication
between faculty members and students during the educational process, and the website of the
Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, where the official website of the
Ministry will be developed Higher education and scientific research on the Internet, and the
application of the Internet of things, through the implementation of interactive applications
for the daily uses of students in the buildings of private universities, and the portal of
researchers in universities and research institutes; To communicate with each other and the
unified portal for project finance agencies; To unify applications to apply for project
financing and to prevent duplication of financing the same project.
According to what the minister presented, the fourth axis of the digital transformation
projects for higher education institutions is the development of the infrastructure, which is
based on the initiative to provide computers for university students and a means of
connection to the Internet, and to equip a unified data center to host all the projects of the
ministry and its affiliates, and link the buildings of each university to its data center. The
main network of optical cables, and raising Internet speeds in universities, and the
establishment of specialized laboratories in the field of Internet of things.
He added that the fifth axis of digital transformation projects is the development of systems
and applications through activating the learning management system within universities
between faculty members and students, providing various services that students need on their
life path within universities, and establishing an automated administrative system for
different work cycles in institutions such as procurement and resource management.
Humanitarian and warehouse, automating the missions sector and the education sector, the
system for confirming original copies of certificates to prevent forgery, and activating
electronic signature. The sixth axis is the development of university educational content
through a joint initiative between higher education and scientific research and the Ministry of
Communications and Information Technology, and the digitization of educational books,
especially those containing scientific materials in the Arabic language.
The minister also reviewed smart digital university hospital projects, which number 113
hospitals, which aim to raise the efficiency of medical and therapeutic services provided,
facilitate services for the patient, track and preserve assets, freedom from paperwork, optimal
use of rooms, track hospital equipment, and save time and effort for hospital workers. .