Minister of Industry Khaled Hashem said his ministry is working with Sawiris Foundation for Social Development (SFSD) to launch a world-class vocational education program aimed at improving the quality of technical and vocational graduates and strengthening their ability to compete globally.
The minister made the remarks during his meeting with SFSD Executive Director Laila Hosny and her accompanying delegation to discuss ways to foster cooperation in technical education and vocational training. During the meeting, the foundation reviewed its technical education programs, which focus on preparing highly qualified technical cadres through scholarships for students at technical schools and institutes in Egypt.
The discussions also covered the foundation’s experience in training-for-employment initiatives and economic empowerment programs for small and medium enterprises. The industry minister said the proposed program would modernize the vocational education system under the Productivity and Vocational Training Department by working with specialized institutions, particularly the Sawiris Foundation, to graduate skilled cadres capable of competing both locally and internationally.
He added that the program would include language, communication and modern technology skills alongside specialized technical training. The initiative would also expand practical education inside factories, seek accreditation from leading international educational institutions, and connect graduates with local and global companies, he noted.
The minister said internationally recognized certifications would encourage more students and parents to pursue vocational education and help address the growing gap between industrial demand for trained labor and the labor market’s current ability to meet those needs.
For her part, Hosny said the SFSD supports technical and vocational education pathways to equip young people with practical and technical skills needed across productive sectors, improve employment opportunities and increase economic productivity through support for leading technical education institutions and scholarship programs.