Siemens and German Development Cooperation inaugurate Egypt’s Technical School of Excellence 

In a new step to advance the technical and vocational education in Egypt, Siemens and the German Development Cooperation, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), celebrated today the inauguration of Egypt’s Zein El Abedeen School of Excellence. Announced in November last year, the joint commitment included developing the school based on the German dual education model. 

Digitalization is key to increasing productivity and competitiveness in the manufacturing industries. It is also creating new business and growth opportunities for companies as well as new jobs. This is why the joint initiative involved equipping the school with a set of technological and learning solutions; developing the curriculum; providing teacher training as well as driving transformation for an enhanced learning experience that prepares students for the future. 

The school lab is equipped with 3D printers, Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) systems as well as Siemens’ Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software. 

“This project is in line with our longstanding commitment to supporting dual technical education in Egypt,” said Lars Fiechel, responsible for the activities related to the Enhancement of the Egyptian Dual System project, implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German Development Cooperation.. “We hope this school becomes a replicable model to help create jobs for talented and skilled technical graduates, establishing a more diverse workforce.”

At Zein El Abedeen Technical School, the PLM software will be an integral component of the curriculum. Students will learn to design, produce, and support products, while capturing best practices and lessons learned along the way. Additionally, the software will enable the students to create digital twins (simulated versions) of their final products as a more efficient alternative to creating a physical prototype.

 “Part of our company’s DNA is to give back to communities. We are committed to developing the workforce of the future and helping close the skills gap,” said Emad Ghaly, CEO of Siemens Egypt. “I am very proud that we have partnered with the German government and the Egyptian Ministry of Education and Technical Education to expand opportunities for Egyptian students. This also supports the goals of Egypt Vision 2030 to build a local workforce that understands and can contribute to the current and future needs of the industry”. 

The German dual education system combines theoretical and work-based learning across a wide range of technical fields. Problem solving, collaboration and digital literacy are among the top focus areas to prepare the youth for the digital future. Globally, Siemens is considered one of the largest providers of dual education programs. 

Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for 170 years. The company is active around the globe, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world's largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is a leading supplier of efficient power generation and power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions as well as automation, drive and software solutions for industry. The company is also a leading provider of medical imaging equipment – such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems – and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT. In fiscal 2017, which ended on September 30, 2017, Siemens generated revenue of €83.0 billion and net income of €6.2 billion. At the end of September 2017, the company had around 372,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.