Two large cultural festivals in Egypt (German Festival in 2003 and 2004) and the inauguration of the German University in Cairo (GUC) by Federal Chancellor Schroeder and President Mubarak in October 2003 gave fresh impetus to cultural relations. The Arab guest appearance at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2004 and the large exhibition in Bonn between November 2004 and May 2005 on the Pharao do Tut Anch Amun have contributed to this positive trend. Germany will be the first guest of honour at the reorganized International Book Fair in Cairo in 2006.
All the major intermediary organizations play a prominent role in Egypt. The Goethe Institute, with offices in Cairo and Alexandria, is a well equipped regional institute with a broad remit. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) maintains a field office in Cairo. It has funded some 4,500 Egyptian scholarship-holders since 1969. The office also represents the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the German Research Foundation (DFG).
Three German schools founded as long ago as 1873, 1884 and 1904 provide education up to German and Egyptian university entrance standard (Thanaweya) and also vocational qualifications. A total of 2,800 pupils are enrolled.
The Cairo department of the German Archaeological Institute (DAI) was founded as long ago as 1907. Its main task is looking after excavation projects on ancient sites but it is also engaged in restoring Islamic monuments in the ancient part of Cairo. Further excavations are being carried out by German archaeologists outside DAI.
There are many twinning arrangements between German and Egyptian universities. DAAD maintains a total of six academic teaching posts at Egyptian universities. The German-Egyptian youth exchange programme supports some 500 young people from both countries every year. Sports coaches receive further training in Germany with German finance. Cultural relations between both countries are formally based on cultural accords from 1959 and 1983.
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