Dr. Mohamed Amara, Chairman of the Egyptian Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (Etqan), stated that the launch of accreditation standards for institutions and programs of technical and vocational education and training in Egypt is the result of hard work and fruitful cooperation, embodying the true spirit of partnership among all concerned parties. The Etqan Authority was established in implementation of the recommendations of the President of the Republic in his closing speech at the Sixth Youth Conference held at Cairo University in late July 2018, followed by many serious, evidence-based efforts with the participation of all relevant ministries and state agencies.

Dr. Amara explained that the authority has a clear vision and noble mission: to build and develop an integrated system for quality assurance and accreditation of technical and vocational education and training institutions and programs, according to specific and transparent national standards that align with international specifications and quality frameworks applied regionally and globally, while considering national constants and requirements, serving the sustainable development plans and policies in the Arab Republic of Egypt.

He emphasized that the standards launched today are not the product of individual effort but rather the culmination of institutional work based on a precise scientific methodology.

He pointed out that the authority relied on solid global references in developing the standards, such as the relevant international standard specifications issued by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), quality frameworks applied in the European Union (EQAVET), studies on quality standards in technical education and vocational training issued by the European Training Foundation (ETF), the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP), in addition to best international practices in many countries. More importantly, these standards are the product of national committees that formed the core of this work, with representatives nominated from all ministries, authorities, and entities participating in setting these standards.

Amara added that to ensure their position on the global map, comparative studies and reviews with international specifications and standards were conducted, showing full compatibility and alignment. This sends a message of confidence to graduates, investors, and partners worldwide that our educational and training institutions, and the educational and training output represented by the graduates of the programs and institutions accredited by the authority, will match the best offered by developed countries.

Amara mentioned the objectives of the standards: they represent genuine quality starting with self-assessment and ending with institutional and program accreditation, linking educational and training programs to labor market needs, building curricula and training programs based on professional standards issued by business organizations, sectoral unions, and sectoral skills councils, with the participation of academics and technical experts in the profession, availability of equipment, laboratories, human resources, and applying the necessary evaluation and assessment methods.