Egypt is collaborating with Japan’s Kyoto Ikueikan Educational Group to transform 20 technical schools into international applied technology institutions specialising in nursing, elderly care and information technology by the next academic year.
Minister of Education and Technical Education Mohamed Abdel Latif met on Sunday with Hidetaka Matsuo, CEO of the Kyoto Ikueikan Educational Group, and a delegation from the Kyoto University of Nursing and Health Sciences to follow up on the executive steps of the cooperation agreement.
The initiative will upgrade 10 nursing schools, five information technology schools and five elderly care schools. Abdel Latif explained that the upgraded institutions will operate on an integrated model based on Japanese curricula and standards, with laboratories and training facilities equipped to match Japan’s education and training systems.
The agreement, which Abdel Latif signed during a recent visit to Japan, marks the first cooperation of its kind between the two nations in the field of technical education. The minister highlighted the depth of Egyptian-Japanese relations, noting that broader educational cooperation is continually evolving, with the number of Egyptian-Japanese schools now reaching 103.
Matsuo expressed his pride in cooperating with Egypt and commended the ministry’s dedication to developing technical education. He affirmed the group’s commitment to supporting Egyptian technical education and preparing qualified cadres by providing opportunities to study and gain experience in Japan, enabling them to return and contribute to national development.
The two sides discussed the executive steps required to equip and raise the efficiency of the targeted schools, alongside the proposed educational and training programmes. They agreed to continue coordination to ensure classes commence next year.
The Japanese delegation included Yang Yong Chun, Director of International Affairs at the Ikueikan Educational Foundation, and Amani Takeda, Associate Professor at Ikueikan University.
Egyptian officials in attendance included Deputy Minister Ayman Bahaa El-Din; Yasser Osman, the Minister’s Advisor for International Relations and Agreements; and Amal Refaat, Executive Director of the Hiroshima Teacher Training Program and the Minister’s Advisor for Egyptian-Japanese Relations.
This partnership builds on the existing network of Egyptian-Japanese schools and represents a significant expansion into specialised technical and applied education. By adopting Japanese curricula and standards, the upgraded schools aim to produce graduates equipped with practical skills that meet both domestic labour market needs and international benchmarks in healthcare and technology sectors.
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The focus on nursing and elderly care addresses growing demand for skilled professionals in Egypt’s healthcare system, while the information technology component supports the country’s broader digital transformation goals. Equipping laboratories and training facilities to Japanese standards is expected to enhance the quality of practical training and bridge the gap between classroom learning and workplace requirements.
The agreement also opens pathways for Egyptian educators and students to gain direct exposure to Japan’s technical education model. Opportunities to study and train in Japan will allow participants to acquire advanced knowledge and methodologies, which they can then transfer back to Egyptian institutions, creating a multiplier effect on national capacity building.
Coordination between the Ministry of Education and Technical Education and the Kyoto Ikueikan Educational Group will continue in the coming months to finalise infrastructure upgrades, curriculum adaptation, teacher training and the timeline for launching the new programmes. Both sides emphasised the importance of timely implementation so that the transformed schools can begin operations in the upcoming academic year.
The initiative underscores Egypt’s commitment to modernising technical and vocational education through international partnerships. It also reflects the strengthening of educational ties between Egypt and Japan, moving beyond general schooling into specialised applied technology fields that directly support human capital development and economic priorities.
As the first cooperation of its kind in technical education between the two countries, the project sets a precedent for future collaborations. Successful implementation could pave the way for additional specialised programmes and deeper institutional linkages in the years ahead.
Through this partnership, Egypt aims to elevate the standards of its technical schools, produce highly skilled graduates in critical sectors, and strengthen the overall quality and international competitiveness of its technical education system.
