Egypt’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Ayman Ashour, convened an urgent meeting of the Supreme Council of Universities on Tuesday evening, 28 January, to address the suspension of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) scholarship programs. The meeting, held virtually, was attended by Mustafa Rifaat, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Universities, and Ihab Abdel Rahman, Academic Affairs Director at the American University in Cairo. The primary focus of the meeting was the impact of the temporary suspension of USAID’s global scholarship programs, which has left 1,077 Egyptian students enrolled in various universities across Egypt in a state of uncertainty. The students, who are recipients of USAID grants, are studying at public, private, and national universities (877 students) as well as the American University in Cairo (200 students). The decision to suspend the programs, which is set to last 90 days, has raised concerns about how these students will continue their education without the promised financial support. During the session, Ashour reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting these students. He emphasized that the Ministry of Higher Education would continue to work closely with universities to ensure the…
Egypt to Cover Tuition Costs for 1,077 Students After Suspension of USAID Scholarship Programs
January 29, 2025
By Nadine Tag
Journalist
