Building an Egyptian higher education ecosystem for a knowledge-based economy

Abstract

The Egyptian Higher Education System is not serving the country's current needs well, and without quick reformation, it will hold back the Egyptian economic and the social progress. This paper provides a holistic approach that allows identification of major interdependency problems. It adapts a new methodology which considers the system as a living organism that consists of interactive, connected components. It builds a complete framework that consists of: the driving forces for a Knowledge-Based Economy, an explanation of the ecosystem's components - an investigation of the associated problems with each component, and finally providing recommendations for solving the above mentioned problems. This paper is based on the qualitative research method. The empirical research takes three approaches: Documentation, Case-Study and a Survey. This new approach permits the solution of the related obstacles in all parts at the same time, and ensures the improvement of the quality and the competitiveness of the Egyptian higher education system.