Edexcel, a leading provider of internationally recognized academic and professional qualifications, discussed the salient features of UK education and its relevance to Egyptian education sector at a training event held recently at the Integrated Technical Education Cluster of Ameeria in Cairo.
“The objective of the event was to share key information with the Egyptian ministry teachers and professors. We sought to familiarise the education sector in Egypt about the UK credit and qualifications framework (QCF) and what this means for them as well as to review the results of introducing this framework in the UK,” Jailan Gamal El Din, Regional Development Manager – Applied Learning, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Edexcel said.
The conference also threw light on what moving to the credit rated QCF specification means in terms of structure and rules of combination as well as understanding the implications for existing learners, explore approaches to assessment, including assignment writing and student motivation and achievement.
“At the conference, we reviewed the requirements of the Edexcel BTEC quality assurance model and discussed ways to bring education and training to industry together in Egypt and ensure that learners are trained against international standards,” Gamal El Din, added.
According to Mrs El Din, the key to modernize the education system in Egypt is to provide the right education that nurtures the skills of the fresh graduates and more importantly to bridge the gap between the knowledge obtained through formal education and actual skills required by employers in Egypt.
“The education system in Egypt should work on introducing students to the real-world workplace,” Gamal El Din emphasized. “It is important to ensure that the Technical / Industrial Schools, and Technical college graduates in Egypt meet the needs of the labour market.”
Prof. Mohammed Megahed and Prof. Farid Tolba, who are responsible for the quality assurance systems at the Edexcel approved Cluster of Ameeria in Cairo, have encouraged students who finished secondary school or its equivalence to apply for the British Higher National Diploma in Engineering at the Egyptian Integrated Technical Education Cluster of Ameeria.
Egyptian education has to prepare future generations to help economies compete in the global skills race and there is disconnect between educators and employers. As a result, there is an absence of the development of workforce behaviors within education, such as leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Edexcel’s vocational qualifications that are delivered at the Egyptian Integrated Technical Education Cluster of Ameeria in Cairo provide a practical, real-world approach to learning alongside a theoretical background. They are designed both to replicate the professional working environment and provide learners with the skills, knowledge and behaviors they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive global market.