Going Global Partnership between University of Wolverhampton(UoW) and Pharos University in Alexandria (PUA).

Partnership between UoW and PUA, sponsored by British Council Arrow image button

Going Global Partnership sponsored by British Council- webpage for project information and updates from UoW's visit to PUA (July 2022)

Currently, the main higher education challenge in Egypt is the demographic pressure arising from the increased number of universities. The estimated population of Egypt is 105,248,335 (14th most populous country in the world). Thus, there is a need for new teaching programmes. Furthermore, a major government priority for graduate employability to be increased is to align academia more closely with industry. This can be achieved by introducing apprenticeship programmes into the Higher Education sector. The Project will address the following challenges:

  • The need to emphasize the importance of using different teaching approaches (such as blended learning) in the apprenticeship programme.
  • Prioritizing the promotion of courses and the development of a business partnership with PUA for our future collaboration, including research.

During the Project the following items relating to our business model will be discussed: Promoting our civil engineering courses so that they can be delivered in Egypt via either direct delivery (by UoW) or by PUA, who will adapt our courses and deliver them in Egypt. This will generate income for services provided by UoW.

The Project will promote British values overseas. In addition, more opportunities for Egypt will be created, considering the ongoing increase in the population of Egypt.

Proposed outputs of the project

 

  1. Development of one TNE Civil Engineering Course that contributes towards UK and Egyptian bachelor’s degree qualification (with up to 20 students)
  2. Development of one TNE Civil Engineering version for apprenticeship (with up to 20 students) degree in order to enhance employability skills of students. It is also planned to train three individuals as a skill coach who will become familiar with the method of conducting review for apprentices
  3. Development of two joint research programmes as part of 1-to-1 PhD mapping where a UK-based and an Egypt-based research student work collaboratively supported by supervisors from both institutions.
  4. Development of one collaborative research proposal following the identification of appropriate funding schemes.
  5. Produce two collaborative research outputs in the form of journal, or conference papers.

 

Short-term
  1. Everyone, who will be following the programmes, e.g. students, researchers and staff develop a greater international outlook and capacity for internationalisation.
  2. The Egyptian students are allowed to register on the UoW courses, which will increase students’ mobility
  3. Egyptian researchers and staff will be exposed to funding opportunities for research grants generation.
Medium-term:
  1. Improvement of relevant market understanding and access at both UoW and PUA
  2. Potential for growth for PUA and UoW by means of creation a new Civil Engineering TNE programme
  3. Increase scale and effectiveness of UoW TNE programme as well as the version for apprentices. It will also lead to creation of innovative services, e.g. teaching or products, e.g. TNE programme.
  4. Access to other sources of funding, including in-kind contribution that support delivery of project activities and ensure sustainability (e.g. funding from Ministry of Higher Education and Research, staff costs, industry support)
  5. Creation of benefits that apply to wider HE sectors (e.g. publication sharing, international best practice).
Long-term:
  1. Improved capacity for internationalisation at institutional level. Expose of UoW to the Egyptian market
  2. Creation of the real value to the UK, e.g. development of favourable policies and strategies.

February 2022-June 2022. In preparation for the Workshop 1, key information related to the course programme from both sides have be identified. This include:

  • People who will be trained as skill coaches for apprentices (PUA).
  • Existing modules on the Civil Engineering course.
  • Identifying the potential employers from the Egyptian side.
  • Identifying potential areas for research collaboration.
  • Identifying potential PhD students

July 2022. UoW team travels to Egypt to visit the PUA in order to begin developing a TNE Civil Engineering course, including the apprentices programme. Workshop 1 will solely focus on this outcome.

August 2022. After Workshop 1 a follow-up evaluation (questionnaire) will be circulated in order to determine the future goals and to take into consideration some improvements and details of the programme to optimize its performance.

September 2022–March 2023. In preparation for Workshop 2 the following documents will be prepared:

  • First draft of the TNE programme, including the apprenticeship section.
  • Manual for skill coaches (first draft).
  • First draft of the research collaboration programme.
  • First draft of the PhD joint programme
  • 1st paper in Q1, Q2 international journal with Gold Standard Open access

April 2023. PUA team travels to the UK to visit UoW. Specific activities include:

  • Making progress with the development of the courses, including becoming familiar with processes such as preparing course specification templates (CST), module specification template (MST) and appropriate costing protocols.
  • The Egyptian team will meet apprenticeship students and the UK skill coaches for a round-table question-and-answer session and detailed discussion.

May 2023. A follow-up evaluation (by means of a questionnaire) of Workshop 2 will be conducted in order to identify a future strategy and optimize programme delivery.

June 2023–December 2023. Analysis of the prepared and validated programmes with all module details, identifying staff resources for teaching and employers for apprenticeship courses.

2nd paper in Q1, Q2 international journal with Gold Standard Open access. 

After both Workshops 1 and 2, a round-table discussion will evaluate the efficiency of its operation followed by an open seminar for staff and students for both universities and industrial partners. An Action Plan will be established after each workshop and the progress of that Action Plan will be monitored by the Principal Investigator (PI) of each participant. A monthly online meeting will be held over the entire course of the Project to ensure all of the above Objectives are successfully addressed. A quarterly report will be delivered from each side to reflect on the progress made. Every six-months we will review progress, amend the plan as necessary and the outcomes will be reported to the British Council. The Action Plan will be implemented and continuously monitored. 

Event programme from Saturday to Monday

Event managers: Miss Doaa Elbehairy and Miss Sara Tarek

Saturday, 23rd July

Travelling from the UoW to Birmingham International airport. 17:10 – 23:10

Flight from Birmingham to Istanbul 00:45 – 01:50

Flight from Istanbul to Alexandria Airport transfer to the hotel (The Grand Plaza)

Check-in at the hotel

Airport transfer and check-in will be on Sunday early morning, 24th July.

People involved (UoW):

Paul Hampton (PH) (HoS); Michael Gerges (MG) (Associate Dean Recruitment and International) Michael Fullen (MF) (Prof); Panos Georgakis (PG)(Prof); Pryce Evans (PE) (Prof); Alaa Hamood (AH) (Interim subject lead for Civil Eng); Julia Zakharova (JZ) (Lecturer); Cath Mansell (CM) (ICE) Khaled Ayad (KA) (PhD student); Ameena Khan (AK) (Student coach) 

Sunday, 24th July

No planned activities. Exploring the area

Monday, 25th July Day 1

Introduction and Ice – Breaker

09:00 – 10:15 Arrival and Participants’ introduction (Closed meeting between UoW and PUA delegations)

10:15 – 10:45 Tea and coffee

10:45 – 11:00 Registration

11:00 – 11:15 Welcome talk by the Head of Construction Engineering and Management Dept., Prof. Hamdy Afefy (PUA)

11:15 – 11:30 Welcome talk by the Dean of Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Mohamed Abouali (PUA)

11:30 – 11:50 Welcome talk from Dr Julia Zakharova

11:50 – 12:00 Welcome talk by the President of Pharos University, Prof. Mahmoud Mohy El-Din (PUA)

12:00 – 13:30 Lunch and networking

 13:30 – 14:30 Apprenticeship route, professional accreditation. Dr Alaa Hamood

14:30 – 15:30 Industry in apprentices programme. Industrial placement. Prof Pryce Evans (UoW – Jacobs)

15:30 – 16:30 Round-table discussion, chaired by Dr Julia Zakharova.

 

*Media presence will be in place during the visit *

 *Note taking (Dr. Essam Fouad, Dr. Diaa Seif ,Dr. Nourhane ElHaridi)

*Note taking (AK)

*Media coverage and website editing (KA) +(AK) *All online links will be provided closer to the event*

Event managers:

Miss Doaa Elbehairy and Miss Sara Tarek

Saturday, 23rd July

Travelling from the UoW to Birmingham International airport. 17:10 – 23:10

Flight from Birmingham to Istanbul 00:45 – 01:50

Flight from Istanbul to Alexandria Airport transfer to the hotel (The Grand Plaza)

Check-in at the hotel

Airport transfer and check-in will be on Sunday early morning, 24th July.

People involved (UoW):

Paul Hampton (PH) (HoS); Michael Gerges (MG) (Associate Dean Recruitment and International) Michael Fullen (MF) (Prof); Panos Georgakis (PG)(Prof); Pryce Evans (PE) (Prof); Alaa Hamood (AH) (Interim subject lead for Civil Eng); Julia Zakharova (JZ) (Lecturer); Cath Mansell (CM) (ICE) Khaled Ayad (KA) (PhD student); Ameena Khan (AK) (Student coach) 

Sunday, 24th July

No planned activities. Exploring the area

Monday, 25th July Day 1

Introduction and Ice – Breaker

09:00 – 10:15 Arrival and Participants’ introduction (Closed meeting between UoW and PUA delegations)

10:15 – 10:45 Tea and coffee

10:45 – 11:00 Registration

11:00 – 11:10 Welcome talk by the Head of Construction Engineering and Management Dept., Prof. Hamdy Afefy (PUA)

 11:10 – 11:20 Welcome talk by the Dean of Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Mohamed Abouali (PUA)

11:20 – 11:35 Welcome talk from Dr Julia Zakharova

11:35 – 11:50 Welcome message from the British Council

11:50 – 12:00 Welcome talk by the President of Pharos University, Prof. Mahmoud Mohy El-Din (PUA)

12:00 – 13:30 Lunch and networking

 13:30 – 14:30 Apprenticeship route, professional accreditation. Dr Alaa Hamood

14:30 – 15:30 Industry in apprentices programme. Industrial placement. Prof Pryce Evans (UoW – Jacobs)

15:30 – 16:30 Round-table discussion, chaired by Dr Julia Zakharova.

 

*Media presence will be in place during the visit *

 *Note taking (Dr. Essam Fouad, Dr. Diaa Seif ,Dr. Nourhane ElHaridi)

*Note taking (AK)

*Media coverage and website editing (KA) +(AK) *All online links will be provided closer to the event*

Tuesday, 26th July

 Day 2 TNE collaboration day

 09:00 – 09:30 Tea and coffee

 09:30 – 10:30 TNE online talk by Dr Michael Gerges (UoW)

 10:30 – 11:00 Research student support experience. Talk by Khaled Ayad

11:00 – 11:30 Coffee break

 11:30 – 12:00 PUA International office (role, scope, current and future plans) Assoc. Prof. Mennatallah Gowayed, Head of International Relations Department at PUA.

12:00 – 13:30 Lunch and networking

 13:30 – 14:00 Higher Education in Egyptian quality assurance sector Prof. Nayer Elesnawy, Cairo University

14:00 – 15:00 Higher Education in PUA; Prof. Mohamed Abouali, Prof. Mohamed Naim, Prof. Hamdy Afefy

 15:00 – 16:00 Round-table discussion, chaired by Dr Julia Zakharova. Dr Michael Gerges to join online

*Media presence will be in place during the visit *Note taking (AK) *Media coverage and website editing (KA) +(AK) *All online links will be provided closer to the event. *Note taking (Dr. Essam Fouad, Dr. Diaa Seif ,Dr. Nourhane ElHaridi)

Wednesday, 27th July

Day 3 Industrial day

09:00 – 09:30 Tea and coffee

09:30 – 09:45 Talk by the Head of School (UoW) Dr. Paul Hampton

 09:45 – 10:30 A speaker from Autodesk, Eng. Moataz Ehab, Digital Construction Manager

 10:30 – 11:00 ICE membership routes in the UK Cath Mansell (ICE, UK, joining online)

 11:00 – 11:30 Coffee break

11:30 – 12:00 A speaker from industry (Egypt) (2) Mr. Amr Saad, Managing Director Beton, Agent of Xypex Chemical corporation in Egypt

 12:00 – 13:30 Lunch and networking

 13:30 – 14:00 A speaker from industry (Egypt) (3) Dr. Hossam Alsherbeny, Prime sector for laboratories& Researches and Quality, Alexandria Sanitary Company (ASDCO)

 14:00 – 15:00 A speaker from the Civil Engineering Union (Egypt) (PUA to confirm the speaker) Prof. Hisham Seoudy and Training representative

15:00 – 16:00 Round-table discussion, chaired by Dr Julia Zakharova. Dr Michael Gerges to join online

*All online links will be provided closer to the event. *Note taking (Dr. Essam Fouad, Dr. Diaa Seif ,Dr. Nourhane ElHaridi) *Media presence will be in place during the visit *Note taking (AK) *Media coverage and website editing (KA) +(AK)

Thursday, 28th July

 Day 4 Research day

09:00 – 09:30 Tea and coffee

 09:30 – 10:30 Talk by Prof Mike Fullen

 10:30 – 11:00 Coffee break

 11:00 – 12:00 Talk by Prof Panos Georgakis and Khaled Ayad (UoW)

 12:00 – 13:30 Lunch and networking

 13:30 – 14:00 Student support experience. Talk by Ameena Khan

14:00 – 14:40 PUA Research active member (speaker 1) Prof. Hamdy Afefy: Research activities and interest belong to Construction Engineering and Management Department

 14:40 – 15:00 PUA Research active member (speaker 2) Dr. Essam Fouad: Research interest belongs to Harbor and Coastal Engineering

 15:00 – 15:20 PUA Research active member (speaker 3) Dr. Diaa Seif: Research interest belongs to Sanitary Engineering

 15:20 – 15:40 PUA Research active member (speaker 4) Dr. Naema Ali: Research interest belongs to Soil Mechanics Engineering

 15:40 – 16:00 PUA Research active member (speaker 5) Dr. Emad Elhout: Research interest belongs to Structural Analysis

 16:00 – 17:00 Round-table discussion, wrapping up the proceedings, chaired by Dr Julia Zakharova. Key participants will be included to discuss future opportunities. Dr Michael Gerges to join online

*Media presence will be in place during the visit *Note taking (AK) *Media coverage and website editing (KA) +(AK) *All online links will be provided closer to the event. *Note taking (Dr. Nourhane ElHaridi)

Friday, 29th July Day 5 Informal networking

22:00 - Journey to Alexandria airport from the hotel

*Any expenses will be covered by individual participants

Saturday, 30th July

02:40 – 06:00 Flight from Alexandria to Istanbul

07:50 – 09.55 Flight from Istanbul to Birmingham

Please see the project leaflet for information on the participants from UoW and PUA.

 

 

Return to this page once the programme commences for updates from each day