University of Connecticut Provost Dr. Peter Nicholls, along with a delegation of university officials, traveled to Cairo in November to formally inaugurate a partnership initiative between UConn and Ain Shams University. The visit included meetings with various Egyptian colleagues and local UConn graduates that kicked off establishment of a diploma of science in Information Technology and Entrepreneurship (DITE). The DITE degree program will be taught at Ain Shams University in collaboration with the University of Connecticut. The DITE partnership is one component of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) launched by the U.S. Department of State and funded by USAID.

Accompanying Dr. Nicholls on the visit were Vice Provost for Multi-cultural and International Affairs Dr. Ronald Taylor, Dean of Business Dr. Curt Hunter, head of Computer Science & Engineering Dr. Reda Ammar, Office of International Affairs Executive Director Dr. Boris Bravo-Ureta, and head of the Department of Accounting Dr. Mohamed Hussein. Drs. Ammar and Bravo-Ureta are co-directors of the UConn-Ain Shams University partnership. The ceremony was attended by many Egyptian officials and reported in various media outlets.

The cross-disciplinary two-year DITE program will target computer science and engineering graduates and business graduates. It is expected to produce skilled employees for Egypt’s emerging information technology industry while strengthening links between academia and the business community.

The School of Engineering has a long history of collaboration with Ain Shams, Cairo and other Egyptian universities to advance educational exchange programs, especially at the graduate level, and foster better research relationships. An estimated 50 Egyptian scholars have either earned their doctoral degrees from, or served in post-doctoral posts within, the School of Engineering at UConn. The DITE program is expected to augment the University’s international outreach.