Egypt’s efforts to reduce regional disparities in education and employment took a step forward this week with the opening of the Orange Digital Center in Aswan, a new hub aimed at equipping young people in Upper Egypt with in-demand digital skills.
The center, launched by Orange Egypt in cooperation with the German Agency for International Cooperation and in partnership with Aswan University, is the first Orange Digital Center in Upper Egypt. It reflects a broader national push to extend digital education and workforce development beyond Cairo and other major urban centers.
The Aswan hub is part of Orange Egypt’s corporate social responsibility strategy and is supported by the German government. Its programs focus on providing free technical training and structured support to university students, young graduates and innovators, with the aim of improving employability and aligning skills with labor market needs.
The launch builds on the experience of the Orange Digital Center in Cairo, established in 2021, which has trained thousands of young people in digital technologies and strengthened their readiness for the job market. Organizers say the Aswan center draws on that model while tailoring its offerings to the specific needs of Upper Egypt.
From Crisis to Capacity, Zambia’s Fertilizer Shift Offers a Blueprint for Africa
Aswan University hosts the center on its campus and provides the academic and organizational framework required for its operation. The university is also coordinating with relevant faculties to ensure that training programs complement academic disciplines and respond to real-world labor market demands.
The center’s services are open to university students as well as youth from Aswan and other government members in Upper Egypt. In addition to training, it supports research-related activities and offers practical learning opportunities.
Training programs cover a range of digital fields, including software development, embedded systems, data analysis and cybersecurity, alongside hands-on instruction in hardware, electronics and rapid prototyping. Courses are delivered through a combination of in-person and online formats to increase accessibility.
Beyond formal training, the center functions as an innovation hub, providing technical and advisory support for student projects and startups. It also hosts technology-focused events, competitions and hackathons designed to foster innovation, collaboration and social inclusion.
The project was jointly implemented by Orange Middle East and Africa and the German Agency for International Cooperation under the develoPPP program, with support from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Officials involved in the initiative say the partnership model helps expand access to underserved communities while supporting youth participation in digital transformation.
For policymakers and development partners, the Aswan center represents an effort to address both youth unemployment and the digital divide by bringing skills training closer to communities outside Egypt’s largest cities. For young people in Upper Egypt, it offers a pathway into the digital economy at a time when digital skills are increasingly essential.