Inclusion of 27 Egyptian Universities in the First Edition of the Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Rankings

• 4 Egyptian universities among the top 100 universities in the ranking
• 7 Egyptian universities among the top 200 universities globally
• Prof. Ayman Ashour praises the progress of Egyptian universities in interdisciplinary programs due to their importance in addressing sustainable development challenges
Prof. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, praised the results of Egyptian universities in the first edition of the Times Higher Education global interdisciplinary rankings, which saw the inclusion of 27 Egyptian universities.
Notably, 4 Egyptian universities ranked among the top 100 globally, and 7 universities made it to the top 200.
The Minister highlighted the significant achievement of Egyptian educational institutions entering this ranking, which focuses on identifying the best universities worldwide conducting interdisciplinary scientific research.
He commended the progress made by Egyptian universities in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary programs, emphasizing his commitment to integrating these programs within Egyptian universities since assuming the role of Minister of Higher Education. He noted the importance of these programs in addressing contemporary developmental challenges that require collaboration across disciplines to find innovative solutions involving relevant experts.
According to the ranking results, Cairo University ranked first among the Egyptian universities listed, securing the 39th position globally, followed by Mansoura University at 67th, the American University in Cairo at 93rd, and Alexandria University at 97th, resulting in a total of 4 Egyptian universities among the top 100.
The ranking also included Beni Suef University at 111th, Suez Canal University at 125th, and Ain Shams University at 169th, bringing the total number of Egyptian universities in the top 200 to 7.
Al-Azhar University and Kafr El-Sheikh University were ranked between 201-250, while Assiut University, Benha University, Nile University, Port Said University, and Sohag University were ranked between 251-300. Additionally, Aswan University, Damietta University, Delta University for Science and Technology, Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology, Fayoum University, New Valley University, and Pharos University were ranked between 301-350.
Menofiya University was ranked between 351-400, while Helwan University, South Valley University, and Suez University were ranked between 401-500. The Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport and Badr University were ranked between 501-600. The first edition of the ranking included 749 universities from 92 countries, focusing on interdisciplinary research in fields such as computer science, engineering, life sciences, and physical sciences based on the classification of the Times Higher Education in 11 diverse disciplines.
The ranking methodology, known as Interdisciplinary Research (ISR), consists of three pillars representing stages in the lifecycle of collaborative research in joint projects, divided into 11 indicators measuring various aspects of research integration across disciplines: inputs (19% weight), process (16% weight), and outputs (65% weight).
The "inputs" measure the amount of research funding from research bodies and industry for interdisciplinary projects, while the "process" evaluates infrastructure, success indicators, and internal support provided by universities. The "outputs" assess research production in the mentioned disciplines in terms of quantity and citations and measure the reputation of universities in conducting interdisciplinary sciences through a survey conducted by Times Higher Education.
Prof. Adel Abdel-Ghaffar, the media advisor and official spokesperson for the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, stated that continuous monitoring of prominent international rankings and the progress of Egyptian universities within them is an important indicator of the effective steps taken by the ministry under the national strategy for higher education and scientific research.
This strategy includes seven principles, one of which is "interdisciplinary and interdisciplinary programs," which is considered one of its most important principles.
He noted that Egyptian universities continue to make progress in various global rankings, thanks to the strategy adopted by the Ministry of Higher Education, which has significantly impacted this notable advancement.
The ministry has prioritized international publication in major scientific journals, provided technical support to educational institutions and research centers, as well as financial support for researchers, and implemented policies supporting scientific research through financial and moral support.
This includes collaboration with researchers from various countries and a focus on the quality of joint research, which records a significant number of citations, thereby increasing the chances of publication in high-impact journals.
The official spokesperson also mentioned that the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research organized a seminar titled "Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Research Programs," marking the official launch of the Egyptian National Network for Interdisciplinary Programs and Research for Egyptian universities in May 2023.
Additionally, it is worth noting that the Egyptian Knowledge Bank participated in providing comprehensive training programs for faculty members and researchers at Egyptian universities and research centers, which, in collaboration with Knowledge E, helped empower participants to integrate and teach research skills in interdisciplinary fields and apply transdisciplinary teaching and learning models in their universities.