Nile University (NU), Top 50 Women Forum Announce Landmark Partnership Uniting Academia, Civil Society, and the Private Sector
In a move that establishes an unprecedented national partnership among higher-education institutions, civil society and the private sector, Nile University (NU) hosted the main preparatory meeting for the launch of the STEM and Future Innovation Summit.
The Summit is organized by the Top 50 Most influential Women Forum in cooperation with the National Council for Women, under the auspices of the Prime Minister, and is scheduled for 13–14 December at Nile University’s Sheikh Zayed campus.
The meeting was attended by presidents, vice-presidents and representatives of 20 Egyptian and international universities, along with leaders of the Top 50 Women Forum, including Dina AbdelFattah (Founder & President of the Forum), Engineer Nermin AbdelFattah (Co-founding Partner), Dr Essam Roshdy (Acting President of Nile University), Dr Nermin El Tahri (Member of the University Board of Trustees), and a number of Egyptian and international university presidents.
The meeting is part of a strategic partnership between Nile University (NU) and the Top 50 Women Forum, designed to bridge the gap between academia and the labor market amid rapid digital transformation. The collaboration seeks to build a sustainable link between Egyptian universities and the private sector, empowering young people with the skills and opportunities needed for the jobs of the future.
The meeting discussed practical mechanisms to strengthen collaboration between academic institutions and the private sector, with the goal of preparing graduates who can adapt to rapid technological transformations. It emphasized the importance of developing students’ digital and entrepreneurial skills while advancing the concept of a “comprehensive university” that effectively connects knowledge with production and innovation.
Dina Abdel Fattah, Founder and President of the Top 50 Women Forum, expressed her deep satisfaction with the partnership between the Forum and Egyptian universities, led by Nile University, in organizing the fourth edition of the “Egyptian Women’s Summit.” She emphasized that the Forum’s collaboration with Egyptian universities will culminate in the development of a comprehensive scientific and practical framework aimed at aligning the academic system with the demands of digital transformation. This framework will focus on equipping students with advanced technical skills essential for future jobs and strengthening partnerships between universities and the private sector to foster innovation and entrepreneurship.
She noted that all visions emerging from the Forum’s meeting with presidents of Egyptian and international universities will be drafted and incorporated into the panel sessions and interactive workshops in the presence of all government stakeholders and private-sector representatives during the events of the “Egyptian Women’s Summit”, launched by the Forum next month under the auspices of Prime Minister Dr Mostafa Madbouly, and in partnership with the National Council for Women.
She clarified that since its establishment, the Forum has been built on three main pillars; it started with programmes targeting women in mid-level leadership within institutions and companies, through a professional-mentoring programme held under the sponsorship of the Central Bank of Egypt, the Egyptian Banks Association and the Ministries of Social Solidarity and Planning and Economic Development, with technical and logistical support from the National Council for Women and the Cabinet, resulting in the graduation of about 35 women who now hold influential leadership positions within their organizations.
She added that the Forum expanded its efforts to include students and graduates by organizing various events, most notably the employment exhibition which last year welcomed about 4,000 students from 35 Egyptian universities, in cooperation with the Education for Employment Foundation and the American Chamber of Commerce, and in participation with the U.S. Embassy, with the aim of training youth and preparing them for the labor market, and linking them to real opportunities to develop their practical skills. She pointed out that this year the Forum seeks to improve its monitoring and evaluation mechanisms following the conclusion of its events, so that it can accurately measure the impact of programs and initiatives, as part of developing a successful model for future employment exhibitions.
Dina Abdel Fattah further stated that STEM and Future Innovation Summit will witness participation from 28 Egyptian universities to date, adding that most participating universities have already submitted nominations of students, faculty and projects that will take part in this year’s innovation challenge.
In the same context, Dr. Essam Roshdy, Acting President of Nile University, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership with the Top 50 Women Forum, describing it as an inspiring initiative that offers students genuine opportunities for training, gaining practical experience, and understanding labor market demands. He highlighted the importance of encouraging students to present innovative ideas and contribute to building a more advanced future. Dr. Roshdy affirmed that the university takes pride in serving as the academic and research hub of this national partnership. Since its inception, Nile University has prioritized scientific research and entrepreneurship, making the support and empowerment of Egypt’s students with future-ready skills a strategic goal. The university continues to be a nurturing ground for startups and an active driver of the national economy by bridging knowledge and development.
“We believe that a private non-profit university does not belong to one institution alone, but to all citizens of this nation,” he said. He clarified that the forthcoming Summit represents a national platform for integrating efforts among Egyptian universities, calling upon higher-education institutions to participate actively in this summit which opens new horizons for students to apply their ideas and turn them into real projects through innovation competitions and challenges.
For her part, Dr. Nadia Al-Aref, President of ESLSCA University, emphasized the significance of the STEM and Future Innovation Summit in Egypt, describing it as a vital platform that supports students and recent graduates in the fields of science, technology, and entrepreneurship. She highlighted how the summit empowers them by providing economic and social opportunities and enhancing their capacity for innovation. Regarding the university’s role in advancing this national vision, Dr. Al-Aref stated:
“Our university places strong emphasis on human development through bachelor’s, postgraduate, and executive education programs, where we focus on nurturing capabilities and talents.”
She further underscored the university’s close collaboration with the Top 50 Women Forum to bridge science with practical realities and to equip students with the skills necessary to adapt to the evolving labor market and future jobs.
Meanwhile, Dr. Walid El-Serogy, Vice-President for Community Service and Environmental Development at Helwan University, highlighted the university’s distinction in incubating The National Institute of intellectual property that provides comprehensive support to students in registering their project ideas and protecting their intellectual rights. He announced the Institute’s participation in the employment exhibition accompanying the STEM and Future Innovation Summit, reflecting the university’s commitment to offering this vital service to Egyptian university youth.
Dr. El-Serogy emphasized the Institute’s prominent role in cultivating and enhancing student capabilities throughout their studies by facilitating official registration mechanisms for their ideas and startup projects. He also called for expanding student capacities through specialized entrepreneurship courses, enabling them to transform their ideas into actionable projects aligned with the Summit’s objectives of empowering youth and preparing them for the labor market.
It is noteworthy that the meeting was also attended by Dr Hala El Monoufi (President of Misr University for Science & Technology (MUST)), Dr Nadia Al-Aref (President of ESLSCA University), Dr Mohamed Refaat (Vice-President of Cairo University for Community Service), Dr Walid El-Serogy (Vice-President of Helwan University for Community Service), Dr Enas Mohamed Ibrahim (Vice-President of Damanhour University for Community Service), Dr Asim Fouad Al-Eisawy (Vice-President of Fayoum University for Community Service), Dr Amira AbdelMutalib (Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Galala University, Dr Soha Rafat (Dean of the Faculty of Languages at October 6 University, Dr Yasser Samra (Vice-President of Sadat Academy for Administrative Sciences, and representatives of New Giza University, October 6 University, Ahram Canadian University and British University in Egypt.
