Universities of Canada in Egypt announced its new partnership with the 73-year-old Ryerson University on February 22 at Cairo’s Nile Ritz Carlton to celebrate the beginning of its journey in Cairo. From the heart of Toronto to Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, the Ryerson Cairo Campus will offer its graduates their internationally-accredited degrees in various fields. They’ll also be eligible to participate in exchange programs and competitions with students of diverse backgrounds from the Toronto campus.
“We’re moving onto the world stage to deliver smart and scalable solutions to global challenges.”
Mohamed Lachemi, President of Ryerson University.
Notable Egyptian figures from multiple industries attended the event. Among them were fashion entrepreneur, Mohanad Kojak; actor, Sherif Ramzy; Tayarah’s chief creative officer, Ramez Youssef; TV presenters, Ramy Radwan and Ibrahim Abdel Gawad; the president of Egypt’s Syndicate of Engineers, Hany Dahy; and the Egyptian ambassador to Canada, H.E. Ahmed Abo Zaid.
All the way from Canada, Ryerson University’s president Mohamed Lachemi and H.E. Louis Dumas, Ambassador of Canada to Egypt, gave a speech on the impact the envision the collaboration will have on both Egypt, Canada, and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
The deans of Ryerson University’s faculty of communication and design (FCAD) and faculty of engineering and architectural science (FEAS) — Charles Falzon and Thomas Duever – showed up virtually to introduce what makes their programs unique on a global level to the audience.
We were there for it, interviewed some of the attendees, and here are the event’s key highlights and what they had to say…
The President of Ryerson University, Mohamed Lachemi. Photo via Universities of Canada in Egypt.
The Vision Behind Bringing Ryerson University to Cairo
“I could easily say that Egypt is the engine of the whole [MENA] region. And having Ryerson’s campus present there is something that’s very significant,” Ryerson University’s President, Mohamed Lachemi, told 925 in an interview during the event. “We’re moving onto the world stage to deliver smart and scalable solutions to global challenges,” he added.
Lachemi, therefore, believes that this partnership is not only a bridge between Canada and Egypt — but Canada and the entire MENA region. Their primary goal is to enable students in MENA and Canada to share their values and lead the world to a better future.
H.E. Louis Dumas, Ambassador of Canada to Egypt at the Ryerson Cairo Campus launch. Photo via Universities of Canada in Egypt.
H.E. Louis Dumas, Ambassador of Canada to Egypt, addressed the event’s attendees in person, and said, “Ryerson University is a unique place. There is nothing that gives me greater pleasure than seeing it coming straight from the heart of Canada to the heart of Egypt. As an ambassador, I have different goals; the prosperity of Canada, and the prosperity of Egypt as well. Such collaboration reinforces the current bridges between Egypt and Canada and creates new bridges in all the social aspects.”
“With the limitations of traveling abroad, the need has become urgent and pressing to serve the graduate students and provide them with alternatives to study abroad at accredited universities,” said New Generation School’s Chairperson Salma El Bakry. “As an international K to 12 school operator, I would recommend MENA region’s students to consider such a satellite university.”
Read more: ‘Canada’s Ryerson University Is Coming To Egypt: Here’s Why It’s a Big Deal’
What You Can Study at the Ryerson Cairo Campus
Ryerson’s Cairo Campus will offer select programs through the Faculty of Communication and Design (FCAD) and the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science (FEAS). FCAD’s degree programming will include:
- Media Production
- Sport Media
- Fashion
While FEAS’ offerings will include:
- Civil Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
“As an educator and change-maker, FCAD Cairo is looking to working closely with students to stimulate innovative ideas and develop the talent of the future; the hands these fields are going to be in,” said Charles Falzon, dean of FCAD. Thomas Duever, FEAS’ dean added, “We are striving to make meaningful shifts in culture by shaping leaders who are curious, ethical, and collaborative.”
“We all grew up in families that’d tell you, ‘Maybe study business and have an art course or whatever.’ But this will turn things around.”
Mohanad Kojak, Founder and Creative Director at Kojak Studio
Egyptian Industry Experts on the Expected Impact of Launching the Ryerson Cairo Campus
How do industry experts and pioneers in Egypt see the career-oriented campus shaping future generations? We asked them…
Mohanad Kojak of Kojak Studio at Ryerson University’s Cairo Campus Launch. Photo via Universities of Canada in Egypt.
From the world of fashion, we talked to the founder and creative director of Kojak Studio, Mohanad Kojak, on how Ryerson’s fashion school could impact the industry in Egypt and empower students aspiring to excel in it. “It’s definitely taking the field from being amateur-ish to becoming an actual industry and business. That’s what we lack here,” he pointed out.
There are many specialties and industries in Egypt backed by robust schools, but that’s not the case when for fashion according to Kojak. “We all grew up in families that’d tell you, ‘Maybe study business and have an art course or whatever.’” he added. But with a reputable institution like Ryerson entering the equation, Kojak believes parents will take the field more seriously and students interested in the career will be enabled and empowered to successfully pursue their passion.
Hany Dahy, president of the Egyptian Syndicate of Engineers giving a speech at the Ryerson University Cairo Campus launch event. Photo via Universities of Canada in Egypt.
Hany Dahy, the President of the Egyptian Syndicate of Engineers praised the newly-launched Ryerson Cairo Campus. He believes that its FEAS will help boost innovation in both Egypt and Canada across various engineering disciplines. And he asserted that this innovation is essential in our time to meet local and global challenges that affect our lives.
Sherif Ramzy at the Ryerson Cairo Campus launch event. Photo via Universities of Canada in Egypt.
Egyptian actor, Sherif Ramzy, echoed this when we talked to him about careers in media. “It’s a field of study that’s critical and overlooked in Egypt,” he emphasized. “I trust Canadian education, and I think this new partnership will benefit future generations in Egypt.”
Ramzy also especially admired FCAD’s ‘Sports Media’ major because it’s a rarity for students in the region to find a renowned educational institution that offers it.
To learn more or to reserve your spot this fall semester, click here.
