Implementing interdisciplinary content and novel teaching methods at an Egyptian university: A case report

Abstract

Shifting educational paradigms to facilitate knowledge transfer online is now more than ever needed, given the massive impact of a worldwide pandemic which impedes traditional face to face teaching techniques at universities. In this work, we present recent developments in an international cooperation project between a university in Egypt and a university in Germany, aiming at facilitating knowledge transfer between universities and introducing educational paradigms for interdisciplinary academic collaboration. When conducting such an educational venture boundary conditions such as cultural or infrastructural differences between partner universities need to be considered. In this article, we present the concrete measures we implemented that aim at bridging the educational, infrastructural and cultural gaps and reflect the implementation thereof given the contextual boundary conditions in Germany and Egypt. We conclude by identifying success factors that led to the efficacious implementation of an interdisciplinary pilot course for an Egyptian higher-education institution.