On December 1, 2023, the results of the 2024 Arabic University Rankings were announced, highlighting significant achievements by various Egyptian universities. Among them, the University of Sohag has been recognized for its continuous advancements, ranking 34th among Egyptian universities and 114th among 180 Arabic universities. Dr. Hassan El-Naamani, president of the University of Sohag, remarked on the institution's strides within the framework of its strategy to improve international rankings. He emphasized the importance of meeting global standards related to sustainable development, innovation, and research publication.
Similarly, the University of Benha celebrated its achievements, ranked 32nd among the Arab world and 11th within the Egyptian higher education system. Dr. Nasser El-Gizawy, the university's president, attributed this success to collaborative efforts among 180 universities across 16 Arab countries, showcasing improving patterns of growth from ratings collected last year.
The rankings are structured around several key performance indicators (KPIs), including education quality, research output, innovation, and community service. The performance measures are carefully constructed to reflect the specific requirements of Arab nations, focusing on enhancing global competitiveness and the overall quality of education and research within the region.
Dr. Amr Abdel-Hamid, the university's director of scientific publishing, illustrated the indicators used for the university rankings, which assigns weights to each – 30% for education quality, 40% for research output, and 15% for both innovation and collaboration with community service. These categories are aimed at promoting innovative research contributing to knowledge economies.
The significance of these rankings extends not only within Egypt but across the entire Arabic region. Dr. Ayman Ashour, Egypt’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, praised the performance of Egyptian universities, emphasizing their representation in the ranking as the largest among Arab countries. Ashour highlighted how this competition spurs collaboration and development aligned with Arab nations’ educational goals.
Results showed Cairo University at the forefront of Egyptian institutions, followed by Ain Shams University, Mansoura University, and Alexandria University. This performance indicates a broader trend of success among Egyptian higher education institutions, with recent data indicating the participation of at least 20 new universities compared to previous years. Such enhancements echo the commitment to advance higher education and research fields within the Egyptian educational strategy.
Reports demonstrated the breadth of the competition with participant universities spanning numerous Arab countries, including 48 from Egypt alone. The ranking initiative, developed collaboratively by the Arab University Union and supported by various educational organizations, aims for sustainable educational advancements across the region.
The newest version of the rankings highlights the increase from previous years, with universities now meeting both qualitative and quantitative criteria necessary for consideration. The focus remains on promoting innovation, quality research outputs, and fostering community engagement, ensuring higher education institutions contribute effectively to their societies.
Overall, as outlined by the education authorities, the 2024 rankings reflect not just numbers but the growing reputation of Arab universities on the global stage. The emphasis on measurable quality across various performance dimensions is intended to signal improvements and push for continual academic excellence.
