The appointment of a professor of Islamic studies and philosophy as president of Cairo University may have come as a surprise to some, but Mohamed Osman El Khosht has a vision of Islam that embraces science and technology while according space to Egypt's Coptic Christian minority.
And in that vision, he is at one with president Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s call for a “new religious discourse” and the Egypt Vision 2030 plan to propel the country towards a knowledge-based economy.
The professor is, for example, a constant critic of rote learning and academic authoritarianism, both of which still dominate in Egyptian education at all levels.
“A closed education system causes terrorism because it depends on memorisation without comprehension,” he said, referring to primary schools where students memorise passages from the Quran with little analysis or discussion.
Professor El Khosht, 53, has written 57 books and numerous articles, establishing him as a leading Muslim scholar who connects his faith to western thought — an approach that began in his adolescence. “I first read Bertrand Russell when I was 15,” he said. This precocity in a teenager drew the attention of elders at his local mosque in the middle-class Dokki neighbourhood of Cairo.
“One day when I was 16, the imam was sick so they asked if anyone was ready and felt able to do the Friday Khutba [sermon]. The older people were afraid to take on the responsibility, but I was the headstrong teenager.”
He has won admiration for blending the Muslim faith and humanistic philosophy and bravely following an academic path that has clear political implications at Egypt’s flagship higher education institution.
“There is a strong connection between El Khosht’s scholarly work on the philosophy of religions and President Sisi’s call for a new religious discourse,” said Mahmoud Al Said, vice dean for education and student affairs. “It’s about formation of a religious approach distinctly different from those perpetuated by the closed minds of some clergy who don’t comprehend the spaciousness of either the world or of religion.”
But this quest for innovation does not mean Egypt's state-funded universities are about to become awash with partisan politics. After two students died in clashes between Egyptian police and Muslim Brotherhood supporters in January 2014, Cairo University officials declared the campus a “no politics zone”.
To reinforce the continuity of this policy, within days of assuming his post in August, Mr El Khosht suspended four professors in the chemistry department after they returned from a Muslim Brotherhood conference in Germany.
“We facilitate workshops for students and host academic conferences on regional and international issues,” he said. “But no political parties can actively work on campus.”
He wants Cairo University to be an incubator for entrepreneurial start-ups, not a political hothouse for student sit-ins.
In October, the Faculty of Economics and Political Science launched an entrepreneurship hub aimed at students and alumni to provide seed money and professional coaching for start-ups in manufacturing, tourism, energy and agribusiness.
"My vision of Cairo University is that it becomes a third-generation university focused on grooming graduate entrepreneurs," Mr El Khosht said. "We need to train students to use their own ability to solve problems and take initiative. It's the only way to cultivate the kind of leaders needed to create the small and micro enterprises that will drive economic growth."
One priority is reforming the examination system. “If the exam will test the ability to understand, the student will understand. If the exam tests the ability to analyse and compare, the student will train himself on analysis and comparison. If the exam tests the ability to think critically, the student will study critical thinking."
Bullying became a hot topic on campus after a third-year arts student died of heart failure in January after being forced by a professor to leave a final exam because her mobile phone rang.
As the university’s former vice president for education and student affairs, Mr El Khosht helped his predecessor implement programmes against sexual harassment, the first at an Egyptian public university. Now as president, he says he is moving from protecting women to advancing them. His own two daughters, both of college age, make their own decisions about how to dress and what to study, he says.
Statistics which show unemployment at a startling 56 per cent among Egyptian female college graduates illustrates the urgency of his commitment to gender-neutral evaluation, Mr El Khosht said.
“We need to not only confront the idea of harassment but change the Middle Eastern male perception of women. Male academics must understand that competition in teaching and research is not related to masculinity or femininity but to efficiency and ability to perform. Promotions and awards have to be based solely on the standard of the work.”
For the new president, Cairo University's future depends not only on meeting international academic and technology standards, but on truly embracing diversity and a commitment to becoming a global institution. The first practical measure has been to admit more foreign students. In fact, the 3,000 international students accepted this year is double the 2016 number.
“Of course, this adds to the income of the university in a very strong way, but more vital is contact with the wider world that happens not just through an interdisciplinary syllabus, but through interpersonal relationships transforming all of our Egyptian students into international scholars as well.”
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MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
Stage 2
1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin-Fenix 4:18:30
2. Tadej Pogacar (SLV) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:06
3. Primoz Roglic (SLV) Jumbo-Visma 0:00:06
4. Wilco Kelderman (NED) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:06
5. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:00:08
Zimbabwe v UAE, ODI series
All matches at the Harare Sports Club:
1st ODI, Wednesday, April 10
2nd ODI, Friday, April 12
3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14
4th ODI, Tuesday, April 16
UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm
Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: L/100km
Price: Dh306,495
On sale: now
Europa League group stage draw
Group A: Villarreal, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Astana, Slavia Prague.
Group B: Dynamo Kiev, Young Boys, Partizan Belgrade, Skenderbeu.
Group C: Sporting Braga, Ludogorets, Hoffenheim, Istanbul Basaksehir.
Group D: AC Milan, Austria Vienna , Rijeka, AEK Athens.
Group E: Lyon, Everton, Atalanta, Apollon Limassol.
Group F: FC Copenhagen, Lokomotiv Moscow, Sheriff Tiraspol, FC Zlin.
Group G: Vitoria Plzen, Steaua Bucarest, Hapoel Beer-Sheva, FC Lugano.
Group H: Arsenal, BATE Borisov, Cologne, Red Star Belgrade.
Group I: Salzburg, Marseille, Vitoria Guimaraes, Konyaspor.
Group J: Athletic Bilbao, Hertha Berlin, Zorya Luhansk, Ostersund.
Group K: Lazio, Nice, Zulte Waregem, Vitesse Arnhem.
Group L: Zenit St Petersburg, Real Sociedad, Rosenborg, Vardar
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Barings Bank
Barings, one of Britain’s oldest investment banks, was
founded in 1762 and operated for 233 years before it went bust after a trading
scandal.
Barings Bank collapsed in February 1995 following colossal
losses caused by rogue trader Nick Lesson.
Leeson gambled more than $1 billion in speculative trades,
wiping out the venerable merchant bank’s cash reserves.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Meydan racecard:
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (PA) Group 1 | US$75,000 (Dirt) | 2,200 metres
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas (TB) Listed | $250,000 (D) | 1,600m
7.40pm: Meydan Classic Trial (TB) Conditions | $100,000 (Turf) | 1,400m
8.15pm: Al Shindagha Sprint (TB) Group 3 | $200,000 (D) | 1,200m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (D) | 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,000m
10pm: Handicap (TB) | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
Bantamweight: Jalal Al Daaja (JOR) beat Hamza Bougamza (MAR)
Catchweight 67kg: Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR) beat Fouad Mesdari (ALG)
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammed Ali (UAE) beat Abdelhak Amhidra (MAR)
Catchweight 73kg: Mosatafa Ibrahim Radi (PAL) beat Yazid Chouchane (ALG)
Middleweight: Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) beat Badreddine Diani (MAR)
Catchweight 78KG: Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Adnan Bushashy (ALG)
Middleweight: Sallah-Eddine Dekhissi (MAR) beat Abdel Enam (EGY)
Catchweight 65kg: Yanis Ghemmouri (ALG) beat Rachid Hazoume (MAR)
Lightweight: Mohammed Yahya (UAE) beat Azouz Anwar (EGY)
Catchweight 79kg: Souhil Tahiri (ALG) beat Omar Hussein (PAL)
Middleweight: Tarek Suleiman (SYR) beat Laid Zerhouni (ALG)
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PSL FINAL
Multan Sultans v Peshawar Zalmi
8pm, Thursday
Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Top 5 concerns globally:
1. Unemployment
2. Spread of infectious diseases
3. Fiscal crises
4. Cyber attacks
5. Profound social instability
Top 5 concerns in the Mena region
1. Energy price shock
2. Fiscal crises
3. Spread of infectious diseases
4. Unmanageable inflation
5. Cyber attacks
Source: World Economic Foundation
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
