Eng. Amir Wassef

Biography:

- Received a Bachelor?s degree in Solid State Electronics Engineering (Physics Dept.) from the Faculty of Engineering, University of Alexandria in 1973 and studied towards a M.Sc. degree at University of Alexandria Science Center. - Founded United Electronics in 1977, a manufacturing company in Alexandria specialized in the design and manufacture of electronic controls for industry applications. Capitalizing on his extensive experience in industrial controls, he later established UNITEL in Borg el Arab- Alexandria, which specializes in Materials Handling Systems. Today, UNITEL is Egypt?s leading supplier of many types of conveyors and integrated handling systems such as warehousing systems, assembly lines for white goods and specialized materials handling systems, with thousands of installations and a customer base in Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Yemen, the United Arab Emirates and Singapore. - Founded INTEGRA, a manufacturer of Agro Produce Processing Systems, in Borg el Arab, and Gulf Handling Co. a trading company in the UAE. - Professional activities include: -- Implementation of modern CAD-CAM system for designing materials handling systems and robotized palletizing lines for his companies. -- Design of hundreds of conveyors and materials handling systems -- Strategic planning and strategy implementation -- Design of company governance systems and industrial workflow systems -- Application of ERP systems in his companies -- Design of PLC controls using UML Methodologies for design modeling definition -- Certified Lead Auditor for ISO 9000 - Member of the Alexandria Business Association and chaired the Information Committee of ABA for eleven years. - Member of the board of Trustees- Borg el Arab City and chairs the Strategic Planning Committee, and contributing to the definition of the long term strategic plan of this industrial city. - Consultant to the Social Fund for Development for Small and Micro Enterprises in Borg el Arab and a board member of the Medium and Small Enterprise Association in Borg el Arab. - Appointed in 2004 by the Ministry of Higher Education as the Egyptian Industry representative in the Founding Team of the Egyptian Japanese University for Science and Technology in Borg el Arab, where he has made many contributions to integrate academia with industry in this unique project between the governments of Egypt and Japan. - Visiting Professor of Strategic Management at ESLSCA Graduate School, MBA Program. - Advisor to the President of the-Egypt-Japan University for Science & Technology- for International and External Affairs, and a member of the University Council of EJUST.. - Member of the Advisory Board of the Mechanical Engineering Department of the American University in Cairo. - Ex Board Member of the Alexandria Flying Club. - Past President of the Rotary Club of Alexandria Mariout - Ex Board member Borg el Arab Investors Association, - Ex Member of the Board of Trustees Amreya Technical School and Borg el Arab Technical School. - Holds a pilot license for gliders and single engine small aircrafts, and Senior Flight Instructor for gliders and single engine small aircrafts at the local air club in Alexandria Nozha Airport with over 5000 hours of flying time - Professional affiliations include membership of : -- Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) USA -- Syndicate of Engineers- Egypt -- Industrial Automation Society of the IEEE, USA. -- Robotics and Automation Society, IEEE, USA -- Industrial Electronics Society, IEEE, USA

Abstract:

New and emerging paradigms in Science and Technology Education are identified together with recommendations for their implementation. Next, the peculiarities of emerging economies are enumerated and factors of particular impact on education systems are listed, namely the role of government, the effectiveness of institutions and the impact of industry fragmentation. Combining sustainability requirements with the new paradigms in education within the constraints of emerging economies, leads to a set of requirements that could be adopted in order develop an effective and responsive Science and Technology policy. In conclusion some recommendations related to the role of government and ways of strengthening cooperation between academia and industry are suggested as a means of improving Science and Technology education.