The Handbook on Equal Opportunities in the Egyptian Higher Education System is the result of the combined efforts of many actors: All were participants in the DAAD-funded project Gender Equality in the Egyptian Higher Education System under the lead of Freie Universität Berlin, and in cooperation with the universities of Alexandria, Cairo, Sohag and South Valley. Freie Universität is an international network university represented in Cairo by a liaison office, which aims to increase academic cooperation between Freie Universität in Berlin and universities and research centers in Egypt and the Middle East. This region is of great importance to German universities in general, and it enjoys a particularly strong research focus at Freie Universität Berlin. The transformation process after the Arab uprisings of 2011 increased the attention given to the region, thus fostering research, cooperation projects and transcultural dialogue. In times of social and political change, international university partnerships provide platforms for exchange and support. Gender equality and diversity policy are integral parts of Freie Universität Berlin. Opening them up to a more international perspective was the goal of the DAAD project Gender Equality in the Egyptian Higher Education System.
