Egypt Trains 10,485 Students in Cybersecurity, AI

The 2026 Summer Training Program trained 10,485 university students across Egypt in eight technology tracks, with cybersecurity attracting the most participants. On Saturday, 17 October 2026, the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) and the National Telecommunication Institute (NTI) honored top-performing graduates at a ceremony at ITIDA's headquarters in Smart Village.

Cybersecurity Leads Participation

Cybersecurity drew 2,192 trainees, ahead of artificial intelligence at 2,001 and software development at 1,998. Data science accounted for 1,827 participants, digital arts for 745, systems administration for 617, cloud computing for 559 and electronics for 548. The tracks included more than 26 training courses.

Every participant received 120 hours of training: 90 hours of technical instruction and 30 hours focused on soft skills or freelancing. A total of 3,807 students took part in training delivered through international technology academies, including programs affiliated with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Cisco, Fortinet, Huawei and Red Hat. At the closing ceremony, organizers recognized 44 students who earned Fortinet Cybersecurity certification.

The program reached students in 27 governorates. It trained 3,691 people in Greater Cairo, 3,941 in Lower Egypt and the Delta, 2,298 in Upper Egypt and 555 in the Canal governorates. Organizers allocated opportunities through mechanisms designed for balanced distribution, in line with student numbers in targeted academic disciplines in each governorate.

Training and Work-Ready Skills

The program combines technical instruction with professional skills, workplace readiness and freelancing capabilities. Students can continue in the same track at more advanced levels in later years, or explore other fields. Around 1,200 trainees completed their pathways and moved on to advanced levels.

Khattab congratulated more than 10,000 students who completed the program. Participants either developed a practical project published on GitHub or earned certification through an international academy. This year's edition required students to complete a practical graduation project to receive the program certificate, and expanded opportunities to obtain international certifications and develop freelancing skills.

More than 40,000 students applied in less than seven days after registration opened. Khattab said the top 200 graduates generated approximately $25,000 in freelancing revenue, averaging around $125 per graduate, within a short period after completing the program. The ceremony also recognized students who secured freelancing opportunities through Gigs, along with the teams behind the three top graduation projects.

Companies and National Talent

Top-performing students visited the offices of international and local technology companies in Smart Village. The visits introduced them to workplaces, business operations, technology roles and employer requirements. Participating companies included VOIS, Valeo, Systems Egypt, Coretech Innovations, Esperti Solutions and Izam Inc.

El Zaher said investment in young people and their skills is essential to the growth and global competitiveness of Egypt's technology industry. He highlighted training that connects theoretical knowledge with practical application. Rapid technological advances, particularly in artificial intelligence, are changing jobs and employer needs, he said. El Zaher described the program, delivered with NTI, as Egypt's largest summer training program for university students by participant numbers.

The program forms part of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology's efforts to develop Egypt's digital talent pool. Khattab said it was in its second consecutive year and formed part of the ministry's strategy to develop digital capabilities and prepare specialized talent for Egypt's ICT sector and international markets.

Egypt has approximately 750,000 university graduates annually, including more than 50,000 ICT and engineering graduates. The country also has an established offshoring industry and a growing presence of multinational technology and professional services companies in software development, engineering, business services and digital operations.