Cairo, Egypt – Nile University (NU) has announced today the opening of enrollment for the Sustainable Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Financing Program. During the information session held by the university, in collaboration with the Commercial International Bank – Egypt, Dr. Hassan Youssef Ali, Dean of NU’s School of Business, announced that the program will start in the second semester of the current academic year. He said that the program is the first step in the academic field to activate the sustainability initiatives that were launched by Egypt at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh last month. It aims to address the scarcity of competencies in the field of sustainable SME financing in Egypt and the world. “NU has harnessed all its scientific capabilities and established international cooperations to bring this program to a global academic level, with CIB’s contribution as a success partner in the program and the distinguished experts and practical expertise it brings. Through this program, which is Egypt’s first joint program between a scientific institution and a banking institution, the Bank provides students with a unique opportunity to learn, practice and implement what they learned,” Dr. Ali added. “I’m proud of the leading role played by the university and the School of Business, as well as CIB’s outstanding role, vision and participation through its experience and practical knowledge, aiming to prepare a new generation that combines scientific knowledge and practical experience,” he commented. Khaled Eid, President of Executive Education and Associate Dean of the School of Business, said that the program was developed and designed in light of the international standards of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. He also mentioned that global content was incorporated into the program through NU’s cooperation with Coursera, the world's leading online platform for providing access to programs from the most important international universities, which is expected to enrich the program. “NU’s Executive Education Center, in cooperation with CIB, will organize a special program for the Bank’s employees to deepen their understanding of sustainable finance and strengthen CIB’s capacity-building efforts in the field of sustainability to achieve the Bank’s strategic objectives, in line with the CBE’s requirements and the nation’s efforts to achieve inclusive and sustainable development,” he added. The university signed a memorandum of understanding with CIB at the beginning of the year to prepare and design Egypt's first-of-its-kind academic program for educating specialists on sustainable SME financing, under the auspices of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). The signing ceremony was attended by Mr. Sherif Lokman, CBE’s Deputy Governor of the CBE for Financial Inclusion, Dr. Wael Akl, President of Nile University, Dr. Dalia Abdel Kader, CIB’s Head of Sustainable Finance, and Prof. Rashwan Hammady, Retail Banking Acting CEO at CIB. During the ceremony, CIB praised NU’s academic and executive education capabilities to launch and provide academic and operational programs that are in line with the latest developments and global challenges facing the business sector. “Integrating the concept of sustainability, with its environmental, social and governance dimensions, into the academic curricula in Egyptian universities is vital, as education plays a key role in accelerating the transformation of economies and societies towards sustainable development. As such, CIB is committed to collaborating with leading educational institutions that always strive to innovate and develop academic curricula to keep up with the labor market requirements and the national and international trends, which support digital transformation and sustainable development. Nile University plays a leading role in this field,” Dr. Abdel Kader commented. Mr. Hani Al-Deeb, CIB’s Head of Small and Medium Enterprises, emphasized the importance of the role played by the SME sector in reviving the economy and the positive impact of CBE’s policies on empowering SMEs, as well as the importance of accompanying these efforts with a qualified workforce. “The collaboration between CIB and NU comprises several pillars, including executive education. The university has organized programs for the Bank's executives on cutting-edge strategic topics before. This collaboration also includes qualifying a new generation of sustainable SME financing professionals. It is a pioneering example of linking education to industry, which will add value to the society, human capital and the economy,” said Morcos Mikhail, CIB’s Head of Learning and Development. He added that CIB remains committed to investing in the human component, exceeding the Bank’s needs, as part of its strategic objectives and social responsibility.