Directorate General for Education and Culture
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University of Rome
"Foro Italico" |
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| Background |
University education in Egypt has a long-standing tradition and is free of charge and increasingly encouraged by the government. Universities were originally concentrated in Cairo and Alexandria, but it has been a policy to establish new ones and spread them among the country. Today, there are 13 national Universities (and 6 international ones).The downside of this,particularly the lack oftuition,is the huge number of students (about 1,600,000) and the burden this creates, thus disabling the institutions from the research, updating and development needed to catch up with modern advancements. Universities have somewhat failed to maintain the link with social needs, and in order to be able to cope with the rapidly changing external world, technological innovation and globalization, substantial changes are required.
Following the national strategy in the field of education, Helwan Univ, AlexandriaUniversity and MiniaUniversity identified the need to update its PE curriculum bringing it closer to modern sport science curricula. This will involve reviewing some study subjects and introducing new ones at the undergraduate level, as well as designing a postgraduate curriculum, with Master and possibly PhD programs, as in fact exist, particularly in the area of sport and health science (traditionally the strongest, and today the closest to social needs).
On the other hand,the importance of sport & physical activity (PA) in education, society, and health & prevention, as emphasised by international bodies (eg, 2004 declared EU Year of Education through Sport; 2005 UN Year of Sport and PE; reports by WHO and other medical organisations) is increasingly perceived. In Egypt too, as has long been true in all developed countries, there is, and will be, a growing burden of health & social problems related to aging, life stress & chronic disease, known to be largely prevented or ameliorated by suitably administered PA. The related needs in terms of education, prevention, rehabilitation, or coping with disability, urgently require appropriate measures involving the promotion of sport & PA, and of course the preparation of modernly qualified specialists.
In conclusion, a revision of the curricula and study cycles appears to be urgently needed to meet the new requirements of research and of the Egyptian society and job market. This is what PC Universities, coordinated by Helwan University, intends to do in the context of the current transformation of the PE Faculty, setting off to educating new generations of social operators, teachers and scholars with an upgraded background and know-how, better equipped to deal with the new and complex challenges and needs that increasingly characterise scientific research, the educational process, and contemporary society.
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| Objectives and Methodologies |
The main objectives of the project are to update sport science curricula in structure, contents and teaching methodology, bringing the Faculties closer to its European counterparts and strengthening the background of graduates, giving them better chances to meet job-market requirements or in turn contribute to scientific research and the education of younger generations.
Study programs will be redesigned and updated, in the light of scientific advances and the analysis of 1) Egyptian undergraduate and postgraduate curricula; 2) European Partner experience and related curricula; 3) social and public health needs, and job-market requirements and trends. A tracking of graduates and consultation with employers will be undertaken to this effect. |
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| Dissemination |
Dissemination of the project's goals and frame of reference will start in the early stages of the project and continue throughout its realisation and later. It will involve disseminating printing materials and information as well as meetings, seminars and presentations, and consist in two main actions:
- Involving the graduates and operators in the sport sector.A leaflet describing the project in Arabic and English will be distributed or sent out to hundreds of graduating students, graduates and operators, including Sport Federations, sport or health clubs, hotels and resorts, and related organisations.
- Promoting the project with Physical Education Faculties, other academic contexts, health operators, and schools.A specific dissemination action will be undertaken on the occasion of the visits of the European Partner Faculty for the Curriculum Development Sessions, the Intensive Course, and finally for the European Master dissertations, the postgraduate curriculum, and the Final Report.
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| Sustainability |
The Tempus funding is needed to support the transformation process. Once this is accomplished, many of the results obtained will be permanent and only require running and maintenance costs that should basically be affordable by the institution:
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the structures, equipments, services and procedures implemented will remain in place and be basically supported through the institution's ordinary budget, with some extra source of support for maintenance;
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the upgrading of study programs and teaching skills, technologies and presentations will have taken place, as will the mobility program and Faculty upgrading through the European Master, and have become a new asset for the institution (additional mobility costs, such as for the European Master students in relation to the discussion of their thesis --in case they have not done so in Cairo by the end of year 3-- will need to be supported through Tempus IMG or other mobility programs);
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the new undergraduate curriculum will replace the previous one and be offered on a regular basis, without necessarily involving extra costs;
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the postgraduate curriculum will have been developed and be ready to be offered once it is accredited by the Ministry and funded: through accreditation by the Higher Education Ministry a fixed annual budget to support the department will be granted;
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the market operators and other social parties will be more involved and motivated, the value of physical activityin health and prevention will be more widely recognised, and this will result in wider occupability of graduates, possible external funding, higher numbers of students, and related budget increases.
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| Quality Control and Monitoring |
The project will be closely monitored by the Grant Coordinator, whose institution has a special Tempus office being involved in several such projects, as well as by the the Grant Applicant and other European Partner. In particular, and in addition to regular contactsbetween Grant Coordinator, Grant Applicant and Partner Country, the following evaluation measures will be taken:
- Bimonthly Reports. The timing and description of the various achievements will be detailed out in a report every two months.
- Coordinating Meetings. The situation will then be discussed in detail at each of the 4 Coordinating Meetings.
- Six-monthly Reports. Reports will prepared by the EU-PM and the GC, in consultation with GA, every six months and circulated to all partners.
- European Partner Reviews. Further discussions of the reports and a general assessment of the accomplishments and their quality will take place at the time of the 4 EuropeanPartner visits to Cairo in the 2nd and 3rd year.
- Final Report.At the time of the last European Partner visit to Cairo in December of the 3rd year, a general evaluation will take place and a Final Report will be issued, with recommendations towards future monitoring and the regular implementation of internal and external quality assessment procedures. The Final Report will be drafted by the Grant Coordinator and approved by all partners at the meeting.
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