The Egyptian Cultural and Educational Bureau- Washington DC represents the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education & Research in the USA. It aims to strengthen the existing scientific collaboration between the academic & research institutes in Egypt and the USA as well as establishing new links. The bureau ensures the smooth academic progress of the Egyptian mission Students in the USA, and sponsors them.
The bureau also encourages American students to study in/visit Egyptian academic and research Institutes.
With the collaboration of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, as well as relevant scientific/cultural institutes & societies in the US, the Bureau organizes a series of cultural events with the aim of strengthening the cultural relationship between Egypt and the USA as well as introducing the vast and diverse cultural aspects of Egypt and its nation, starting with the Ancient Egypt and continuing to the contemporary Egypt.
Finally, as part of the Egyptian diplomatic delegation in the US, the bureau takes the responsibility to organize and to hold the Egyptian school exams for the Egyptian students in the US.
The Egyptian cultural and Educational Bureau (ECEB) in Washington DC organizes and participates in variety of cultural events and activities in the United States. Following is a list of the main ones:
- Art exhibitions and music performances to introduce authentic, classic and contemporary Egyptian works to the American public.
- Lecture series where renowned Egyptian or American scholars present their thoughts or glimpse of their latest works.
- The spectrum of the includes culture, history, literature, music and arts. Showing of Egyptian subtitled movies adapted from the literary works of great Egyptian authors portraying the life setting of common Egyptians or those who molded the features of Egypt ‘s history.
- ECEB celebrates national and religious days creating venues for Egyptians to meet with Americans and Non-Americans to exchange ideas about facts, beliefs and customs related to such occasions.
- Visits to elementary, middle and high schools in the vicinity of the Washington DC area through the Embassy Adoption Program.
- ECEB receives some many letters each month from schools (teachers and students) requesting information about Egypt.
- Contacts with American Educational and Cultural institutions when ECEB is invited to participate in International Day activities. Sample Egyptian articles are put on display (stamps, costumes, handcrafts, posters, flags, currency etc…)
The Egyptian Cultural and Educational Bureau (ECEB) in Washington DC plays a major role in variety of educational activities. Following is a list of the main ones:
- Enhancing the cooperation between education and research centers in Egypt and their counterparts in the United States .
- ECEB facilitates development of the agreements and memorandums of understanding and supervises the progress of the joint programs thereafter.
- Identifying areas of new developments in all scientific fields, observe the rating of the universities and delineates scholars of greatest accomplishments for the benefit of directing future Egyptian missions and training programs in the United States.
- Supervising Egyptian students and scholars studying or conducting research in the United States .
- ECEB helps in Academic placement for Egyptian the students in American universities, monitors their academic progress and compiles the abstracts of their completed theses. keeping track of the accredited programs and accrediting bodies and advise on the equivalency of the degrees granted by schools, colleges and universities in the United States to their corresponding degrees in Egypt.
- Administering pre-university exams, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Education curricula, for Egyptian students residing in the United States with their guardians.
- The exams are prepared and sent by the Ministry of Education in Egypt for the following grades: third, fourth, fifth and sixth elementary level, first, second and third preparatory level, and first secondary level. Answer papers are graded in Egypt.
- The Egyptian Cultural and Educational Bureau in Washington DC interacts very closely with graduate student sent on governmental scholarships or granted study leave by institutions falling under the auspices of the Ministry of Higher Education and scientific research.
ECEB coordinates the following programs.
- Government Mission Program (GM): The GM Program is directed to Egyptian students of high caliber to pursue their PhD work in the United States in selected fields. The Egyptian Government sponsors and fully supports the PhD candidates over four years. In some cases, the mission with the government support can be extended additional nine months. Beyond the four years the candidate should find other means of support to complete the degree requirements. Awardees of the GM Program should return to their mother institutions to serve.
- Joint Supervision (JS) and Data Collection (CD) Programs: The program is directed to assistant lecturers in Egyptian Universities, graduate students with Masters Degrees, registered for PhD degrees in Egyptian universities. The student would come to the United States for a period of one year to collect data or conduct further research for his dissertation. The student is fully supported by the Egyptian Government. For the JS Program, the student is supervised by an Egyptian professor and an American professor is selected as his co-supervisor. The American co-supervisor is invited for two weeks to Egypt while the student is still in Egypt to agree on the study program and plan the student activities in the US . The Egyptian supervisor visits the student, two weeks, during his stay in the US to advise and monitor progress. Air tickets and per diem for the trips of both supervisors is covered by the Government of Egypt. CD and JS missions can be extended beyond the first year provided that the mother institution of the student agrees and that the student finds means to support his stay.
- The Post Doctoral Sabbatical Program (SAB): Candidates for the SAB Program should have their PhD degrees from Egyptian universities. They join an American university or research institute for a period of three to six months. The Egyptian Government fully supports their stay. They work closely with mentors within the host departments.
- Self Financed (SF) and Study Leave (SL) Students: This group of students includes demonstrators (graduates with Bachelors Degree) and assistant lecturers (graduates with a Masters Degree) who are appointed in an Egyptian University or Research Center that belongs to the Ministry of higher Education and Scientific Research. They come to the United States for higher degrees. They support themselves through assistantships offered by American universities or through family savings. Their tenure positions in Egypt are kept while they are working to complete their degrees. Other privileges offered by the government include return air tickets back home and other thesis preparation allowances.
- Student under Scientific Supervision: Egyptian students residing in the United States with their guardians and attending American high schools and universities should register with ECEB as students under scientific supervision. Their military service is postponed while they are conducting full load of study. Egyptian students enrolled in the American Diploma who will be joining Egyptian universities should be registered with ECEB as students under scientific supervision.
