UNESCO summarises digital transformation collaborative’s first-year finale in Cairo

Egypt’s Ministry of Education and EdgeConn partnered to host a two-day analysis workshop, highlighting the country’s commitment to digital transformation in its education sector.
Outdoors

The Digital Transformation Collaborative (DTC) wrapped up its inaugural year of impactful, multifaceted collaboration with a gathering in Cairo, Egypt, on December 17-18, 2023. Comprising experts in educational technology from the Global Education Coalition, the DTC brings together representatives from various sectors, including multilateral organizations, the private sector, telecommunications companies, non-governmental organizations, funds, and foundations.

The two-day analysis workshop highlighted Egypt’s strong dedication to promoting digital transformation in its education sector to speed up the attainment of its education objectives. In collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Technical Education of the Egyptian Government and the local service provider EdgeConn, the event drew more than 200 attendees.

Led by Egypt’s Minister of Education and Technical Education, Dr Reda Hegazy, the workshop delved into analytic discussions concerning Egypt’s digital transformation journey within its education system. The UNESCO DTC team moderated the event, presented global trends in digital transformation in education, and outlined the five focus areas of Egypt’s 2023-2027 Education Sector Plan, with digital transformation being a key focus area.Dr Ahmed Daher, Deputy Minister for Technology Development at the MoETE, elaborated on Egypt’s digital transformation initiatives in schools and stressed the significance of multisectoral collaboration in the MoETE’s strategy.

The DTC steering group, comprised of organizations such as UNESCO, UNICEF, ITU, Ericsson, GPE, Microsoft, Google, Lenovo, Anthology, and Global Assessment Solutions, facilitated breakout sessions to explore Egypt’s strengths and challenges in digital transformation across various dimensions including coordination, cost, connectivity, capacity, content, and data. Dina Ghobashy, Global Education Transformation Lead at Microsoft, emphasized the importance of coordination and leadership in digital transformation projects, underscoring the need for a comprehensive strategy integrated into Egypt’s broader education transformation plans.

Overall, the event underscored the critical role of collaboration and strategic planning in driving digital transformation within Egypt’s education sector, with the DTC serving as a vital platform for ongoing dialogue and support.