By Samah Abdul Fattah | 2024-10-30

Through academic cooperation programs, the United States has been helping to raise up a new generation of leaders and pioneers in all fields in the Middle East, as part of wider efforts to support the region's security and prosperity.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) University Scholarship Program is one of the best bilateral initiatives for Egypt and Egyptian students, Ain Shams University economics professor Shaher Abdullah told Al-Fassel.

The program, implemented by the American University in Cairo, offers scholarships that enable students to obtain bachelor's degrees at Egyptian universities affiliated with the public and private sectors, he said.

During the current academic year, 372 students in 10 Egyptian universities are benefitting from the program, Abdullah said.

"The specializations are varied to enhance economic, social and environmental development in Egypt with a focus on the foundations of knowledge, scientific research, innovation and entrepreneurship," he said.

"This will qualify students for the labor market to an exceptional degree."

University institutions and educators also benefit from the program, he said, by learning about the latest innovations in the field of education and enhancing their teaching skills and methodologies.

Benefits of the program include preparing a new generation for the labor market, helping low-income students attend university and enhancing students' English language skills, he said.

The United States has "a shared commitment to strengthening bilateral economic cooperation" with Egypt, according to the US State Department.

Its unconditional release of military aid to Egypt in September also attests to the strength of the strategic partnership, analysts said.

'Visions and ideas'

Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states also have deep-rooted economic and military ties with the United States.

"Saudi youth have obtained great and remarkable advantages through scientific and academic cooperation between the kingdom and the United States," said King Abdulaziz University economics lecturer Faisal al-Khawaldi.

Beyond scholarships and education, this has included "participation in international scientific conferences," he told Al-Fassel.

Students from Tabuk University recently participated in the 2024 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Undergraduate Research Technology Conference.

This participation is in line with the kingdom's Vision 2030, he added, "as it stimulates the internal educational environment and also greatly stimulates the competitive environment among students."

The United Arab Emirates "was the first to open doors to its students through cooperation with US universities and providing scholarships to students with creative and distinctive ideas," he noted.

"This produced a generation of students with visions and ideas," he said, who have become capable leaders in all fields.