EUI’s President: Around 25% of Egyptian cybersecurity students are females
Prof. Reem Bahgat, President of Egypt University of Informatics, pointed out that Cybersecurity is a highly demanded discipline in Egypt during the current period, generally for both males and females. Female students range from 20 to 25%, and almost half of the total number of computing and information technology students. High enrollment comes from the importance of this specialization and its role in preserving and protecting data against cyber theft and digital systems from cyberattacks. In the digital system, security threats have become one of the most critical risks that major organizations seek to address. Accordingly, this science has become very important in preserving informatics.
During her participation in the FDC Summit Forum, Prof. Reem Bahgat highlighted in the panel discussion entitled (Future Participation of Females in Cybersecurity in terms of Reality, opportunities, and Challenges and their role in promoting the State's Efforts towards digital transformation) that Cybersecurity is not easy, because of the need for many unique features in its study. She pointed out that the percentage of girls in the study of this sector in Egypt may be reaching 25%.
She continued: "The State pays tremendous interest to cybersecurity specialization, so universities are keeping pace with this interest through specialized academic programs. The Faculty of Computing and Information Sciences at Egypt University of Informatics offers a cybersecurity track with a bachelor's degree by studying sciences that make students, professionally qualified to enter the labor market by enriching their experience to deal with the future of cybersecurity and its role in ensuring a secure digital transformation once they graduate.
Prof. Bahgat added through the panel discussion featuring Eng. Dawlat Hashim, Assistant President of the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company for Information Systems (EGas), Prof. Nashwa Abdelbaki, Director of the Information Security Program at Nile University, Prof. Marianne Azer, Member of the Egyptian Parliament and Professor at Nile University and Eng. Heba Farahat, who was ranked among the Top influential 50 Women in Cybersecurity in Africa back in 2020, that Artificial intelligence and Cybersecurity shape the world’s future. The cybersecurity system must keep pace with this development, which depends on accurate data, hence the importance of securing and integrating such data.
Prof. Reem Bahgat also emphasized the role played by IT companies in the ongoing training of students and their participation in some practical aspects complementing the educational process through fruitful cooperation agreements with the University.
Egypt University of Informatics is one of the first specialized universities in the Middle East and Africa in Communications, Information Technology, and their affected areas. It was founded by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to become a leading academic institution offering specialized educational programs to meet the need of the labor market with highly expertise ICT professionals.
Egypt University of Informatics has four faculties (Engineering, Computing and Information Sciences, Business Informatics, and Digital Arts & Design). It offers 16 specialized educational programs to meet the labor market’s needs from specialists in the latest fields of ICT, such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Engineering, Electronics and Communications Engineering, Business Analytics, Business Technology Management, Digital Marketing, Animation Arts, User Experience, and Game Design.