Event report

On 5 December 2021 the Hungarian Embassy in Cairo organized a workshop titled „Future of Europe – the Role of Education in a stable Neighbourhood” with eight university professors and lecturers, who studied in Hungary with scholarships in the past 60 years and are currently lecturing at Egyptian Universities. The workshop was organized with the aim of determining how the EU member states and the EU can use the tool of education cooperation in enhancing the security and stability of Europe, as well as in pushing back illegal migration and the spread of radical and intolerant ideologies. The attending university lecturers and professors working in the fields of natural science and arts represented a wide range of generations including those who graduated in Hungary in the 1960s and some who graduated in the middle of 2010s. They all agreed that the scholarships offered by Hungary changed their lives and set their future on the right track. The knowledge they received offered them an opportunity to earn themselves and their extended family a living in Egypt while also changing their outlook on the world. They, in their current roles, are also motivating their students to take part of such foreign programs and also act as the main motor of cooperation between Hungarian and Egyptian universities, research institutes. They do believe that even if some scholarship holders decide to stay in Europe after completing their studies, most of them will eventually return to Egypt, which they know and where they can easily fit into the society. The main findings of the workshop: - Scholarship holders returning to their home countries will possess a knowledge which is sought-after in the local private and academic labour market. Consequence: These people and their extended families will be firmly rooted and respected members of their local communities. - Scholarship holders returning to their home countries will contribute to raising the local economic output and will be involved in creating new technologies. The economic growth of their home country will be advanced. Consequence: Education offered by EU member states to neighbouring countries greatly contributes to fostering security and stability in the neighbourhood of Europe. This on the one hand improves the overall security and stability of the EU countries, while on the other hand acts against mass illegal migration. - Living in other cultures and societies broaden the perspective of the scholarship holders, making them less susceptible to intolerant ideologies. They also try to pass their tolerant viewpoint to others. Consequence: Education opportunities in the EU contributes to lowering the possible support for radical groups aiming at destabizing the region.