The Nile University project dates back to 1999, when the Egyptian government foresaw the need to establish a leading edge not-for-profit university dedicated to the acceleration of national and regional technology-driven economic development. NU is to be a leader in the advancement of higher education, applied research, and technological development, acquisition and transfer.

While Egypt has a solid academic sector, there is a growing shortage of technically-capable and well-qualified personnel who are educated and trained to understand the needs of industry in a dynamically changing global market place. Expansion of the nation’s technology resources, particularly in high skilled areas, is critical to the country’s goal of sustainable economic growth. The engagement of the international R&D community is an important step in this direction.

In addition, Egypt does not presently have a world-class research university capable of meeting industry challenges in high technology sectors. Furthermore, the National Telecommunications and Information Technology Strategic Plan calls for building an IT society that could cope with worldwide development and advancements to accelerate economic and social development in Egypt. The main goal of this plan is to bridge the digital gap between Egypt and the developed industrial nations.

The initiative of establishing Nile University was presented by a group of private sector and government leaders who proposed the establishment of a new hi-tech., not-for-profit and privately-managed university. The government has allocated 127 acres in Sheikh Zayed city to the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT), which is to take the lead in establishing this university in support of its mandate to expand the technology base in Egypt, primarily in the CIT sector.

This university would serve the dual purpose of capacity building in targeted sectors and in leading applied research in collaboration with the ICT community and other critical industrial sectors in Egypt. NU was conceived with this philosophy of linking academia, industry, and government..

The Egyptian Foundation for Technological Education and Development (EFTED) was set up in 2005 with the primary purpose of establishing Nile University. The University obtained approvals for operations from the Higher Council of Private Universities under law No. 101 of 1996. The presidential decree for establishing the University was issued in July 2006, which marks the final stages in launching NU activities.

The University embraces a diversity of the student body and faculty as a key to excellence in its operational environment. NU is currently planning to offer a total of 27 programs phased over a 10-year period; 15 at the graduate level and 12 at the undergraduate level. These programs will focus on engineering disciplines, starting with programs in CIT, Business Administration and Management of Technology. In addition, the University is planning to offer ambitious continuing education and professional training programs.

The following distinguishing characteristics are what make Nile University unique among institutions of higher learning:

• NU is primarily a graduate university that offers Masters and PhD degrees in addition to a strategic set of undergraduate degrees. All programs are well-integrated in targeted areas of engineering and business administration.
• NU is focused on technology and management programs to support capacity building needs in defined sectors.
• NU champions a new model of cooperation between university, industry and government.
• NU embraces and values strong partnerships with world-class universities and leading industry establishments.
• NU benefits from, and aims to develop, strong ties with the expatriate community.
• NU is an NGO, not-for-profit organization which plays an active role in community service, continuing education and professional training.
• NU considers diversity as an element of significant strength.