Dr. Ayman Ashour, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, witnessed the workshop organized by the Supreme Council of Universities; To review ideas and insights on the implementation of the preparatory year of enrolment in private and national universities, in the presence of Dr. Ashraf Hnijal, the SU President, and the Presidents of public, national, and private universities, and the secretaries of councils and several leaders of the Ministry.

At the outset, Dr. Ayman Ashour welcomed the presidents of universities, stressing the importance of holding a workshop to exchange ideas and insights on the mechanisms for implementing the founding year to attend private and national universities.

In addition, the Minister noted that the preparatory year system is available in many universities at the international level. He explained that the preparatory year adds skills and courses to the student's preparation for university studies and reduces the knowledge gap between general education outcomes and what the student is expected to perform at the university level to improve the University's outputs of qualified cadres for the labor market.

Furthermore, Dr. Ayman Ashour emphasized that the preparatory year aims to increase the chances of success in university studies, enhance language skills, develop personal skills, build self-confidence, and adapt rapidly to university life.

The minister added that the preparatory year will contribute to improving the quality of education by upgrading the curriculum according to international standards, qualifying students before they attend university, by providing them with different skills, experiences, and departments, stressing the importance of promoting education using technological means to facilitate learning and make it more attractive to students.

Dr. Moustafa Rafat, the Secretary of the Higher Council of Universities, explained that the preparatory year system achieves many objectives, including providing new opportunities for students; This allows them to enroll in the right disciplines after qualification and reduces students' expatriate by offering an academic alternative that enables them to close the knowledge gap locally rather than looking for study opportunities abroad.

Therefore, the Secretary of the Higher Council of Universities added that the preparatory year supports international students, provides them with the opportunity to acquire more study skills, develop their skills, and gives them a vital opportunity to improve their communication skills, improve their grades, and support academic decision-making by providing an introductory course that helps students to ensure that they have chosen the right academic specialization for them.

Then, the Secretary of the Higher Council of Universities presented a compares on of the different systems of implementation of the preparatory year at the regional and international levels; To make the most of these systems.

Hence, Dr. Mustafa Rafat presented a proposal on the conditions for admission to the preparatory year, the duration of the study, the scientific content and educational pathways of various higher education sectors, and the evaluation and examination systems.

Dr. Adel Abdul Ghaffar, the Media Adviser and Spokesperson of the Ministry, also stated that the presidents of public, private, and national universities presented many ideas and suggestions on the mechanisms for the application of the preparatory year system, its system of study, curricula, evaluation and exams systems, and the electronic system of student submission.

Moreover, the Council of Ministers reviewed and approved a bill amending certain provisions of the Private and National Universities Act promulgated by Law No. 12 of 2009. The amendment stipulated that article No. (19 refined), stipulates that national and private universities shall admit students with a High School Certificate or equivalent, from the academic year 2024/2025, who have not obtained the minimum qualification for admission to the faculty they wish to enroll in private and national universities, once they have passed a qualification stage called the preparatory year according to their scientific qualification for the faculty. All these are in accordance with the regulations, rules, and conditions, by which a decision is issued by the Minister for Higher Education and is drawn up by the Higher Council of Universities after taking the opinion of the Council of Private Universities or the Council of Private Universities without prejudice to several regulations governing this matter.

General Directorate of the Information Office and Spokesperson of the Ministry