Academic diaspora e-platform to be set up to advance science

EGYPT

Egypt is planning to set up a digital platform to enable diaspora academics to support the implementation of national strategies for higher education and scientific research.

This was announced by Egypt’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Ayman Ashour, earlier this month.

The diaspora e-platform is part of the government’s implementation plan for its national strategy that focuses on upgrading higher education institutions, developing Egyptian Universities 4.0 and making research and innovation a lever for socio-economic transformation for achieving Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Egypt’s Vision 2030 focuses on, among other things, producing industry- and market-ready graduates, while Egyptian University 4.0 is a modern higher education model in association with the Fourth Industrial Revolution – Industry 4.0. The model does not only focus on teaching and research, but also on contributing to the local socio-economic development.

According to an October 2023 report entitled, Diaspora and the SDGs: Creating a Community of Impact, an organised diaspora community could contribute to achieving the SDGs.

The JESOR-D Initiative

The e-platform will be developed under a JESOR (which can be translated to mean ‘bridges’) Development Initiative, called JESOR-D – a multipurpose initiative designed to facilitate collaboration between Egyptian experts abroad and universities and research centres through joint projects that address local development challenges and promote sustainable growth.

JESOR-D aims at mitigating the impact of the brain drain and to support national capacity-building and facilitate the transfer of the latest know-how and cutting-edge technology from developed countries to Egypt through the country’s scientists abroad.

The initiative’s actions include collaborative research, technology demonstration and innovation activities, capacity-building, mobility, and international networking.

Database of the academic diaspora

The e-platform’s database of academic Egyptian nationals abroad will facilitate the mobilisation of their skills, knowledge and expertise to foster knowledge sharing between the academic diaspora and national higher education institutions and associated research centres.

It will also aim to strengthen relationships between local and foreign higher education institutions at which Egyptian academics are based.

Resources hub

Dr Khalid Abdel-Rahman, the deputy head of the Institute for Geotechnical Engineering at Leibniz University of Hannover in Germany, told University World News: “Establishing an e-platform for the Egyptian academic diaspora holds several significant benefits, both for the individuals involved and for the broader academic and research community.

“Some key points outlining its importance include interdisciplinary research, which facilitates cross-disciplinary and cross-border projects between international universities and Egypt, a resource hub can serve as a central repository for research publications, data and resources, making knowledge easily accessible,” said Abdel-Rahman.

“Skills development to provide opportunities for professional development through webinars, online courses and workshops, increases the visibility and impact of Egyptian research on their home country, Egypt, and strengthens the reputation of Egyptian academics and institutions worldwide,” he added.

“Overall, an e-platform for the Egyptian academic diaspora can significantly contribute to advancing academic excellence and strengthening global connections.”

Extending the platform

Dr Essam Heggy, Egyptian research scientist at the Viterbi School of Engineering at the US-based University of Southern California, told University World News: “Establishing this platform is a great idea. However, it would be even better to extend the listing beyond citizenship to those who are interested in Egyptian studies.

“There are numerous influential scientists around the world from different fields who spent their whole careers studying different aspects of the country’s geology, archaeology, health conditions, economy and more, but they are not Egyptian,” Heggy explained.

“It would be great if the future platform could include them as part of the country’s long history in assimilating those who served the nation with their talents independently from their citizenship,” he said.

Turning ‘brain drain’ into ‘brain gain’

Dr Samir Khalaf Abd-El-Aal, a professor of genetics at the biotechnology research institute of the National Research Centre in Egypt, told University World News that the platform will serve as a census of Egyptians abroad, as there is an absence of accurate information and statistics about the Egyptian academic diaspora.

“The e-platform is an ideal initiative to connect Egyptian academics abroad and local universities and higher education institutions in joint projects to use their expertise and experiences leading to turn the ‘brain drain’ into a ‘brain gain’ and ‘brain circulation’,” Abd-El-Aal added.

The negative effects of the brain drain in Egypt include the decrease in human capital and the migration of talent leading to a dip in economic growth and productivity, according to a 2020 study titled, ‘The Brain Drain in Egypt and its Impact on Economic Growth’, which indicated that an increase in talent migration by 1% leads to a 5.7% decrease in gross domestic product.

“The e-platform will also be a valuable source for Egyptian postgraduate students seeking supervisors from the Egyptian academic diaspora,” said Abd-El-Aal.

Innovative tasks

Professor Hamed Ead, who is based in the faculty of science, Cairo University, and is the former cultural counsellor at the Egyptian Embassy in Morocco, told University World News: “In my opinion, the online platform for Egyptian academics abroad must focus on carrying out innovative tasks, including interactive knowledge exchanges, project matching, financing and creating resource centres, career development, networking forums, mentorship opportunities and policy advocacy.

“These tasks may allow immediate cooperation between Egyptian researchers abroad and their colleagues in Egypt, and benefit from their expertise in research and development initiatives,” said Ead.

He suggested that, to make the most of local talent and expertise both within the country and among expatriates, another e-platform for unemployed local doctoral holders must also be established.

He explained that the key benefits of such an e-platform would include talent matching, professional development, advocacy and support, talent retention, and offering career opportunities.

“Leveraging the expertise of unemployed PhD holders can help in retaining local talent and prevent a ‘brain drain’ of highly educated individuals from leaving the country, which will contribute to strengthening the country’s overall R&D capabilities, and promoting innovation and economic growth,” Ead concluded.

“For people across MENA (Middle East and North Africa), migration remains an option, especially for the younger, better educated generations, mainly to escape economic hardships,” stated a 2022 report, Public Views of Migration in MENA, which indicated that 13% of surveyed Egyptians are considering emigrating.