Education is the foundation upon which nations rise and progress. Without it, no society can achieve a bright future. Throughout history, pioneers of knowledge have worked to develop and enrich education, making them true nation builders. “Jusoor” News Platform conducted an exclusive interview with Dr. Tamer Younes, Secretary-General of the National Education Network (NEN), a leading figure in advancing and enriching education.
Dr. Tamer Younes holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from Misr University for Science and Technology (2003), a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from the Arab Academy, a PhD in Computers and Information from Ain Shams University, and another PhD in Computer Engineering from Richfield University (USA). He also holds multiple professional certifications in computing and cybersecurity from global technology companies such as Microsoft, Cisco, and Oracle.
Dr. Younes spoke exclusively to “Jusoor” about education, its development, and its integration with modern technology, as well as the role of the National Education Network (NEN) in enhancing education inside and outside Egypt.
How do you manage your time between academia and entrepreneurship?
Time is very important in my life. I prefer not to waste time on anything outside of work. While others may value rest or leisure after work, my main passion is my work, as I believe developing education is a mission of great importance. Therefore, I focus entirely on achieving this goal.
What is your vision for developing education and scientific research in Egypt in the coming years?
The Egyptian government has adopted a strong plan to develop education across all levels and has taken serious steps in this direction, improving Egypt’s ranking in education indicators. However, there is still a long way to go. Technology must be further integrated into education, especially in transforming educational content into interactive formats. A modern system must also be developed to measure learning outcomes and evaluate teachers, as they are the cornerstone of education.
How has NEN contributed to improving education in Egypt?
NEN has strong partnerships with Egyptian educational institutions, especially the Ministry of Education. It provides international assessments such as the iTEP English test and the Al-Tanal Arabic test to improve language proficiency among teachers and enhance overall educational quality. It also collaborates with Cairo University, Alexandria University, Misr University for Science and Technology, and others.
Education is not limited to schools and universities. NEN also focuses on developing trainers across Egypt through the Certified Trainer Project, which provides internationally accredited certification to improve teaching quality across various fields.
How did you overcome the COVID-19 crisis?
The COVID-19 pandemic caused major global disruption, but it also accelerated the shift toward distance learning. NEN demonstrated strong technological capabilities by supporting continuous education through its platforms, including the advanced eExam system, which is widely used by Egyptian and Arab universities for remote learning and assessments.
What are your current and future projects?
One of the most important projects is the establishment of a private university starting with nine faculties. The university will be highly advanced, relying on modern technology and specialized curricula, making it one of the leading institutions in the region.
There is also a plan to establish a group of international schools based on modern educational technologies, interactive curricula, and advanced assessment systems, along with a new international examination framework.
Additional projects include initiatives under “Hayah Karima” in cooperation with the Ministry of Communications, as well as the “Tatweer” initiative for startups in collaboration with the European Bank.
What are NEN’s international activities?
NEN currently operates in five countries: the UK, Russia, UAE, Jordan, and Syria, with plans to expand into the USA, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.
It also maintains partnerships with several international organizations, including Uzbekistan’s Foreign Language Agency, IT-Park Uzbekistan, the Arab Council for Training and Student Creativity, UAE Knowledge Authority, IBDL Foundation, the European Bank, the Arab Economic Unity Council, and Al-Tanal Al-Arabi Foundation.
NEN collaborates with global institutions such as Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, Odoo, the University of Michigan, EC-Council, CompTIA, Cambridge, and Pearson, providing training, technological support, and capacity building across multiple countries.
