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Egypt–France: A High-Level University Partnership to Build the Future of Youth

The Arab Republic of Egypt, represented by Ain Shams University in Cairo, will host, from February 8 to 12, 2026, the second edition of the Winter University of the FEF: Égypte “REINVENTE” project, one of the most prominent Egyptian–French university cooperation initiatives in the fields of higher education, capacity building, support for Francophonie, and investment in Egyptian youth.

This international academic event is held under the patronage of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University; Prof. Ghada Farouk, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development; Prof. Amany Osama Kamel, Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Research; and Prof. Rami Maher Ghali, Vice President for Education and Student Affairs.

The event is coordinated by Prof. Maha Alouia, Head of the French Language Department at the Faculty of Arts; Dr. Christelle Combes, Head of the French as a Foreign Language Department at Aix-Marseille University; and Mr. Daniel Renaud, Attaché for Educational Cooperation at the French Institute in Egypt.

A Strategic Investment in Egyptian Higher Education

The FEF Egypt “REINVENTE” project is funded by the Fonds Équipe France (FEF) of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, representing an investment of €735,000 over the period 2024–2026. It is led by the Cooperation and Cultural Action Department (SCAC) of the French Embassy in Egypt and implemented through Aix-Marseille University, in close partnership with 14 public and private Egyptian universities, namely:

Ain Shams University

Cairo University

Alexandria University

Al-Azhar University

Helwan University

MUST University

The French University in Egypt

Suez Canal University

Port Said University

Kafr El-Sheikh University

Matrouh University

Fayoum University

Beni Suef University

Minya University

The project aims to:

Sustainably support and develop French studies departments at Egyptian universities

Support faculty members in updating pedagogical practices

Enhance the employability of Egyptian students and align academic programs with labor market needs

A National Project Bringing Egyptian Universities Together

The FEF Egypt “REINVENTE” project represents a successful model of academic integration, bringing together fourteen Egyptian universities from Cairo, the Delta, and Upper Egypt within a national network for exchanging expertise and best practices and strengthening collective action among university institutions.

Since its launch, the project has contributed to the implementation of:

Institutional audit and diagnostic missions

Advanced training programs in Egypt and France

Two summer universities in Aix-en-Provence

A Winter University in Cairo in 2025

Study days and observation weeks

The creation of a collaborative digital platform dedicated to faculty staff

More than 100 university professors have benefited from these activities, with a direct and indirect positive impact on students.

Winter University 2026: A Benchmark Academic Milestone

The 2026 Winter University at Ain Shams University represents a pivotal milestone in the project’s trajectory, bringing together more than 130 Egyptian university professors from partner universities over five days of training sessions, workshops, and academic exchanges, with the aim of:

Enhancing pedagogical competencies

Integrating digital transformation into education

Updating curricula in line with students’ needs and labor market requirements

The French Language Department at the Faculty of Arts – Ain Shams University undertook the organization and hosting of this major international event in cooperation with the French Embassy in Cairo and the French Institute in Egypt.

Egypt and France… Building the Future Together

The FEF Egypt “REINVENTE” project reflects the depth of the strategic partnership between Egypt and France in higher education and underscores the commitment of both sides to building sustainable university cooperation based on innovation, knowledge exchange, and long-term investment in youth.

Christelle Combes, the project’s scientific coordinator, emphasized that: “Investing in the training of professors is a sustainable investment in the future of Egyptian youth, and the 2026 Winter University embodies this vision in practice through exchange, innovation, and Egyptian French cooperation.”