Bridging the gap between German academic rigor and Egyptian ambition, CIRA Education proudly launched the Saxony Egypt University for Applied Science and Technology (SEU). This cutting-edge institution, a collaborative endeavor with Saxony’s renowned universities and industries, represents a transformative step in elevating technical education and fostering a highly skilled workforce in Egypt.
In the presence of Minister President of Saxony Mr. Michael Kretschmer, and with representatives from the Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Labor, CIRA Education proudly hosts the official opening ceremony of Saxony Egypt University for Applied Science and Technology (SEU), Egypt’s largest private technological university in the greater Cairo. This pioneering initiative, brought forward through CIRA’s subsidiary, Al Ahly CIRA
—a joint venture between CIRA and Al Ahly Capital Holding — brings leading German industry expertise from Saxony, Germany, to Egypt. The launch event was attended by several high-ranking government officials from Saxony and the rectors of leading Saxon universities.
Following the inauguration by Presidential Decree. No. 308 of 2024, Saxony Egypt University opened its doors to students in September 2024. The newly established applied science and technology university sets itself apart as a premier institution by offering German education standards that ensure academic excellence and global recognition. SEU is committed to enhancing the landscape of technological education in Egypt by bringing together a comprehensive range of programs, developed in collaboration with leading Saxony-based partners, cutting-edge educational technology, innovative teaching methods, and state-of-the-art facilities, labs, and workshops to provide students with an unparalleled learning experience. A key strength of SEU’s curriculum is its strong emphasis on practical learning, with 60% of studies dedicated to hands-on experience to facilitate seamless industry integration, abundant internship opportunities, cross- disciplinary collaboration, and global exposure – laying the groundwork for promising careers on a global scale. Among its strategic partnerships, SEU collaborates with prominent industry leaders such as DB Schenker, Raya Logistics, El Nada Hospital SODIC, La Vienna FC, Ta’ahel, Heliopolis El Shorouk Sporting Club, TUV Nord, and the Egyptian Paralympics Committee, offering valuable internships and career opportunities for its students and graduates. Graduates not only gain proficiency in the German language but also receive active support from SEU in entering the German job market, opening doors to international career prospects, which enable graduates with proficiency in the German language – facilitating their entry into both the Egyptian and German labor markets.
This groundbreaking project, which represents Egypt’s largest investment in technical education, focuses on enhancing the quality of education in Egypt’s technology sector by integrating Saxony’s successfully proven industry expertise. By aligning with Egypt’s strategic direction to support Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), SEU is dedicated to strengthening the Egyptian labor market by producing a highly skilled workforce that meets the evolving demand of local industries and bridges the country’s supply-demand gap for quality education in the technology space, ensuring that graduates are well-equipped with the practical knowledge and technical skills required in today’s economy.
The launch event commenced with a guided campus tour of SEU and continued with speeches from SEU President Prof. Mohamed Abdel Rahman Mohamed and Dr. Hassan Kalla, Chairman of CIRA Education, followed by addresses from the attending representatives of Egyptian ministries.
To cap off the event, a signing ceremony was held for three Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with globally recognized and reputable educational institutions in Saxony, Germany – namely the University of Applied Sciences Zittau/Görlitz (HSZG), the University of Applied Sciences Westsächsische Hochschule Zwickau (WHZ), and the University of Applied Sciences Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg (TU). These agreements formalize SEU’s deep-rooted collaboration with Saxony’s leading universities, ensuring the direct transfer of German academic excellence, applied research methodologies, and industry-integrated education to Egypt. By leveraging the proven success of the German applied sciences model, these partnerships will provide SEU students with world-class curricula, hands-on training, and direct exposure to international best practices, positioning them at the forefront of Egypt’s technology sector.
A fourth MoU was signed with DEinternational, the service unit of the German-Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK Egypt). This agreement establishes DEinternational’s role in delivering examinations and services, adhering to quality assurance standards on behalf of AHK Egypt to SEU. Under this partnership, DEinternational will provide German dual vocational and educational training (VET), allowing SEU students seamless integration into the German labor market. This collaboration is a vital step in strengthening the link between education and industry, ensuring that students gain the practical skills and knowledge necessary for success in both the German and Egyptian labor markets.
Dr. Hassan El Kalla, Chairman of CIRA Education, emphasized the significance of this project, stating: “We are profoundly grateful for the steadfast support from the government, which has been instrumental in the success of this project. We also deeply appreciate the indispensable contributions of our esteemed partners in Saxony, whose collaboration has been
essential to the success of SEU. At CIRA Education, our mission has always been to empower individuals and foster sustainable development. With the launch of SEU, we are actively bringing this mission to life by enhancing skillsets, creating job opportunities, stimulating economic growth, and empowering Egyptian communities for long-term progress.”
Mohamed El-Etreby, CEO of the National Bank of Egypt and Chairman of Al Ahly Capital Holding, affirmed that the establishment of Saxony Egypt University (SEU) marks a milestone in Egypt’s journey towards advancing technical education and fostering innovation. He added that the partnership between Al Ahly Capital—the investment arm of the bank—and CIRA Education provides world-class educational opportunities aligned with the demands of the global labor market. El-Etreby further stated that Saxony Egypt represents a strategic investment in Egypt’s future by equipping its youth with the skills and knowledge necessary to drive economic growth and sustainable development.
