The American University in Cairo (AUC) has announced a significant step to enhance its academic standing and serve the job market by launching a new cybersecurity specialization.
In addition, the university is strengthening international academic cooperation by welcoming the first cohort of students in a joint program with the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen in Germany to obtain a dual master’s degree in political science from both universities.
Alongside launching a new cybersecurity specialization within the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, the AUC has embedded systems and artificial intelligence specializations that were added in the previous two years. The addition of this specialization comes in response to the growing need for qualified experts to protect digital infrastructure and safeguard data from cyberattacks.
Professor and Chair of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and a 1996 graduate of the university, Sharif Ali, stated that these specializations align very well with the needs of the local and international job market.
He added that, “These specializations position our graduates to obtain high-quality jobs with competitive salaries in the market.”
Ali also pointed out that there is a need for expertise in these three specializations in key industries including transportation, healthcare, and communications.
“The entire digital infrastructure needs protection, and there is a significant shortage of specialists to do so,” he said.
In another step reflecting the university’s commitment to international education, the university announced the welcoming of the first cohort of students in a joint master’s program with Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen in Germany.
This program aims to provide students with a unique opportunity to earn a dual degree and enhance their understanding of different cultures.
The launch of the program comes after ten years of fruitful cooperation between the two institutions and represents a significant step in strengthening academic cooperation between Egypt and Germany.
This program is the first of its kind, offering a degree in political science accredited in both Germany and the United States. Students in the program will complete their studies between the two institutions, which includes internships, spending a semester abroad at the partner institution, and studying Arabic and German.
One of the students in the joint program, Angelos Chatzigeorgiannis, expressed his happiness with it.
“It was an excellent decision,” he said, and added “As someone coming from Tübingen, Germany, I was impressed by the rich curriculum that combines theory and practice. The small class size also allows for close and meaningful interaction with professors who are keen on providing valuable academic insights.”
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
