Dr. Ehab Abdel - Rahman, Provost, The American University in Cairo

Higher Ed Without Borders

In this episode, which first aired in June 2022, Higher Ed Without Borders speaks with Dr. Ehab Abdel-Rahman, the Provost of the American University in Cairo (AUC). The university, founded in 1919, has over 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students from over 60 nations. He is the Chief Academic Officer and provides administrative leadership and oversight for all academic components of the University. As Provost, he has twice led the re-accreditations of AUC by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and the National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Education “NAQAAE.” Dr. Abdel-Rahman holds his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Physics from Helwan University in Cairo and his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Utah.

Dr. Abdel-Rahmandiscusses the university and his personal journey, including:

• Discussion of the background of the American University in Cairo - how has it maintained its reputation despite many socio-political and economic changes
• The effects of the pandemic. What did the AUC community learn from adjusting from having classes face to face to online
• Discussion of some of the practices developed uniquely for AUC? What can other international universities learn from AUC experience?
• Dr. Rahman’s own experience as an international student in Utah shaping his views of education.
• AUC is an institution with Internationalization a part of its DNA. Dr. Rahman discusses the recent history when AUC faced challenges in attracting international students and faculty.
• Discussion of international partnerships between AUC and other universities.