Can the degree apprenticeship become the degree of difference in Egypt?

Abstract

As the higher education system in Egypt is currently confronted by a number of challenges, one of which is demographic pressure, there is the need for some new teaching programmes as well as new approaches; in this regard, the British Council plays a pioneering role. This paper has revealed the findings obtained from the participants of the forum organised at Pharos University in Alexandria by the University of Wolverhampton, the objective of which was to discover whether the degree apprenticeship is viable in Egypt. Questionnaires were received from 30 respondents in total, and the main findings were as follows. Although the participants showed their genuine interest and appreciation of the novelty and practicality of the degree apprenticeship, summarising it as “earn while learn”, they believed that the main force which would impede its implementation would be the differences between the systems of higher education in the UK and Egypt, as well as certain cultural features, which continue to predominate in Egyptian society.