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The summer program spans eight tech tracks, led by cybersecurity and AI, alongside software development, data science, cloud computing, systems administration, digital arts and electronics.

The program spans 27 governorates, combining professional technology training, international academy curricula and freelancing skills to prepare graduates for a changing ICT job market.

 The Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) and the National Telecommunication Institute (NTI) honored the top-performing graduates of the 2026 Summer Training Program during a ceremony held at ITIDA’s headquarters in Smart Village. 

A total of 10,485 university students from across Egypt participated in the program, which focused on developing technical and professional skills, providing hands-on training, and preparing students for the job market.

The program is part of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology’s efforts to develop Egypt’s digital talent pool. Implemented through collaboration between ITIDA and NTI, it provides Egyptian university students with specialized technical training alongside professional, soft, and freelancing skills, helping them prepare for the evolving demands of the information and communications technology (ICT) industry.

The ceremony was attended by Eng. Ahmed El Zaher, CEO of ITIDA; Prof. Dr. Ahmed Khattab, President of NTI; and Eng. Mahmoud Sofrata, ITIDA’s VP for ICT Markets Development, along with senior officials from both institutions.

Investing in Digital Skills to Strengthen Egypt’s ICT Industry

Eng. Ahmed El Zaher, CEO of ITIDA, emphasized that investing in young people and developing their skills are essential to the growth and global competitiveness of Egypt’s technology industry. He highlighted the importance of providing training opportunities that prioritize quality and connect theoretical knowledge with practical application.

El Zaher noted that rapid technological advances, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), are reshaping jobs and the skills employers need. Continuous learning, adaptability, and ongoing skills development are therefore critical to helping young people take advantage of emerging opportunities. Equipping students early in their academic journeys, he added, gives them a strong foundation for professional growth and enables them to keep pace with changes in the job market.

He explained that the Summer Training Program, implemented in partnership with NTI, is Egypt’s largest summer training program for university students by participant numbers. Beyond its scale, the program places particular emphasis on the quality and breadth of the training experience, combining specialized technical instruction with soft skills, workplace readiness, and freelancing capabilities to strengthen students’ professional competencies and prepare them to enter the workforce.

The program also accommodates different levels of experience and learning needs. Students can continue in the same technology track in subsequent years and progress to more advanced levels, or explore different fields to broaden their knowledge and identify the areas in which they want to specialize.

Approximately 1,200 trainees completed their training pathways and progressed to advanced levels. El Zaher said ITIDA is committed to making specialized training accessible to young talent wherever they are in Egypt. 

This approach complements the agency’s efforts to encourage local and international companies to expand into governorates beyond Cairo while developing qualified talent in those areas. Together, these efforts can help regional locations attract investment and meet companies’ demand for specialized skills.

He added that the diversity of the program’s training tracks reflects ITIDA’s commitment to keeping pace with technological change and enabling young people to acquire skills across a range of fields, supporting their professional development and opening pathways to promising careers.

NTI Enhances Practical Training and Career Readiness

Prof. Dr. Ahmed Khattab, Director of NTI, said:

“First, I would like to congratulate the more than 10,000 students who completed the 2026 Summer Training Program. Participants successfully either developed a practical project published on GitHub or earned a certification through an international academy. I wish them every success in their academic and professional journeys, and hope the skills they have acquired will serve as an important step toward a promising career in the ICT sector.

“Now in its second consecutive year, the program is being delivered in partnership with ITIDA as part of MCIT’s strategy to develop digital capabilities and prepare specialized talent to meet the needs of the sector, both in Egypt and internationally.

“This year’s edition introduced a significant enhancement by making the completion of a practical graduation project a requirement for receiving the program certificate. It also strengthened opportunities to pursue international certifications and develop freelancing skills.

“More than 40,000 students applied in less than seven days after registration opened, reflecting strong demand among young people for technology skills. Demonstrating the program’s practical impact, the top 200 graduates generated approximately $25,000 in freelancing revenue, averaging around $125 per graduate, within a short period after completing the program.

“I would like to thank the teams, trainers, and coordinators at NTI and ITIDA for their efforts in delivering the program. We look forward to continuing our collaboration to enhance the training content, strengthen young people’s capabilities, and prepare them to compete in the ICT sector.”

Hands-On Learning Connects Students with Industry

As part of its focus on practical learning, the program organized visits for top-performing students to the offices of international and local technology companies in Smart Village. The visits gave students firsthand exposure to professional work environments, business operations, different technology roles, and the skills required by employers.

Participating companies included VOIS, Valeo, Systems Egypt, Coretech Innovations, Esperti Solutions, and Izam Inc. The visits enabled students to gain a clearer understanding of workplace expectations and explore career opportunities across the ICT sector.

Eng. Mahmoud Sofrata, ITIDA’s VP for ICT Markets Development, expressed his satisfaction with the successful conclusion of the program, describing it as one of Egypt’s key summer training initiatives.

He noted that the program gives students opportunities to demonstrate their abilities through graduation projects, earn specialized professional certifications, and gain practical experience in freelancing, strengthening their readiness to enter the job market.

Sofrata also praised the students for their commitment to learning and for dedicating their time to developing new skills. He emphasized that commitment and continuous learning are qualities valued by employers and fundamental to long-term professional success.

Program Highlights: Reach, Training Tracks, and International Certifications

The 2026 Summer Training Program reached 10,485 university students across 27 governorates, reflecting ITIDA and NTI’s commitment to expanding access to training opportunities nationwide. Opportunities are allocated through mechanisms designed to achieve a balanced distribution in line with student numbers in the targeted academic disciplines in each governorate.

The geographical distribution of participants was as follows:

• Greater Cairo: 3,691 trainees

• Lower Egypt and the Delta: 3,941 trainees

• Upper Egypt: 2,298 trainees

• Canal governorates: 555 trainees

The program offered 8 technology tracks comprising more than 26 training courses across a range of specialized fields. Cybersecurity attracted the largest number of participants, followed by artificial intelligence and software development.

The distribution across the eight tracks was as follows:

• Cybersecurity: 2,192 trainees

• Artificial intelligence: 2,001 trainees

• Software development: 1,998 trainees

• Data science: 1,827 trainees

• Digital arts: 745 trainees

• Systems administration: 617 trainees

• Cloud computing: 559 trainees

• Electronics: 548 trainees

Each participant received 120 hours of training, comprising 90 hours of specialized technical instruction and 30 hours dedicated to soft skills or freelancing. This structure helps students apply their technical knowledge, develop professional competencies, and translate their learning into opportunities for employment, independent work, and entrepreneurship.

Male students accounted for 58% of participants, while female students represented 42%, demonstrating broad participation in digital skills development.

International Academies and Industry-Recognized Certifications

A total of 3,807 students enrolled in training programs delivered through international technology academies, including programs affiliated with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Cisco, Fortinet, Huawei, and Red Hat. These programs provide students with specialized knowledge and skills aligned with the training curricula of leading global technology companies.

The closing ceremony recognized the program’s top-performing students. Awards were presented to 44 students who earned the Fortinet Cybersecurity certification, students who secured freelancing opportunities through Gigs, and the teams behind the program’s top three graduation projects.

The Summer Training Program forms part of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology’s broader efforts to develop a new generation of specialists in emerging technologies, expand Egypt’s digital talent pool nationwide, support the growth of the ICT industry, and strengthen the country’s position as a global hub for technology services and innovation.