Governance

The Center of Excellence for Energy will build strong interactions between Egypt’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and other relevant Egyptian government bodies, partner universities, industry leaders, and other key stakeholders to address Egypt’s current and future energy challenges. Committees and groups established will provide advice, support, and guidance on center activities, and governance structures will allow for greater institutionalization and sustainability of the center beyond the project lifetime.

Advisory Committee

Led by the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Ain Shams University President, the Advisory Committee for the Center of Excellence for Energy meets biannually to review plans, progress, and accomplishments of the project. The committee is intended to ensure proper government and university support of the center, assist leadership in garnering networks and resources, and help to eliminate any barriers to the project’s success. The committee also includes representatives from partner Egyptian universities, center leadership, USAID, the Center of Excellence for Water, and energy industry leaders.

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee meets quarterly to review the center’s overall progress as well as the performance and progress of the other governance committees. Based on recommendations from the other Center of Excellence for Energy committees, this group will have final approval on the selection and continuance of applied research projects, curriculum changes, sustainability activities, and other committee activities.

Research and Policy Committee

Comprised of representatives from Arizona State University, Ain Shams University, Mansoura University, Aswan University, center leadership, and stakeholder representatives, the Research and Policy Committee’s primary purpose is to ensure that the center’s research is relevant to Egypt’s energy challenges and goals and to redirect researchers’ focus away from overly theoretical concepts and toward innovative applied research solutions that are both sensible and sustainable. This committee will work closely with the curriculum committee to suggest relevant topics for curriculum, courses, and training programs. This committee will also interact with the sustainability committee to publicize the center’s research results and interactions with the commercial energy industry and funding agencies.

Curriculum Development Committee

The Curriculum Development Committee aims to expand the quality and relevance of degree programs that feed the energy sector and develop and implement improved instructional practices. They will collaborate with center’s leadership and stakeholders to review and assess existing curricula, propose new curricula and energy laboratories and equipment, identify energy-related certificate programs, and assist in defining needed workshops, seminars, conferences, and exhibits.

Sustainability Committee

This committee will review the plans for training and/or technical assistance to support the sustainability of grant-making and other financial processes managed by Egyptian partner universities. This committee reviews the interactions with the industry and conducts grant-making and proposal writing activities.

Stakeholders Group

Engaging a broad range of stakeholders across the energy sector is vital to meet center goals. The Center of Excellence for Energy convenes a group of influential energy stakeholders on a quarterly basis, including representatives from the government of Egypt, USAID, partnering universities, and other public and private organizations involved in energy planning and policymaking, research, industry, and education. Meetings provide an opportunity for candid discussions on strategies to align curriculum and research efforts with the demands of industry and other employers.