Mirna Arif: Microsoft is committed to partnering with educational institutions in Egypt to build the next generation of workers and accelerate digital transformation and innovation
Laila Iskandar: By equipping future workers with 21st century skills, they will be more competitive on the job market and more employable
14 October 2021, Cairo, Egypt – The National Academy of Science and Skills (NASS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Microsoft to deploy Microsoft capacity building solutions and resources in 8 applied technology schools.
The agreement aims to empower NASS ACADEMY with a holistic technology framework to equip students in applied technology schools with the skills they need to succeed in a digital world and enable economic growth and innovation in line with Egypt Vision 2030
Chairman of the National Academy of Sciences and Skills (NASS) Board of Directors, Dr. Laila Iskandar, stated, “As Egypt embarks on an integrated digital transformation journey, we have the responsibility to equip our students to thrive in the fourth Industrial Revolution by providing them with future ready skills that increase their competitiveness in the job market and enhance their employability . We are looking forward to partnering with Microsoft to prepare our students with the 21st century skills they need to flourish as tomorrow’s workers in an increasingly digital future.
Engineer Mirna Arif, Country Manager Microsoft Egypt also spoke on the occasion, saying, “More than 50% of today’s jobs require digital proficiency, and experts expect this percentage to rise to 77% in less than a decade. Schools are responsible for preparing students for a modern workplace, so we are fully committed to systematically support educational institutions at every level with the required technology tools, training, and resources. Our partnership with The National Academy of Science and Skills (NASS) comes in line with our commitment to provide engaging technologies that optimize the education experience and empower students to build the technology skills they need to thrive in an ever-evolving job market. ”
Through the memorandum of understanding, Microsoft and NASS Academy have identified several activities set to empower NASS ACADEMY to develop the necessary foundational capabilities required for their skilling engagements as well as learning resources and tools to include in the schools’ curricula aimed to build skills and a foundational understanding of technology—complements classroom learning and study materials to best prepare students for in-demand jobs. The collaboration also includes the potential use of certain tools to assist students and teachers in career planning and development. In the long run, the plan is to replicate this model of collaboration across all applied technology schools in Egypt.
In line with digital Egypt vision, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology have collaborated to establish an applied technology school system. The project aims to collaborate with the Ministry of Education to provide qualified and trained ICT professionals, with international certifications, to meet the needs of the local market and compete at the regional and international level.
NASS Academy manages 8 applied technology schools for these schools. In addition to managing the curricula, the academy trains consultants hired by MCIT and MOETE, to increase their technological capabilities.
