Journey to Egypt (11/2008, Act.3.3)

Two month after the last conference in Berlin, Germany, colleagues from TUD (Dr. Ebersbach, Eng. Gerhardts, Eng. Jaehrig) and the individual expert Mrs. Kiefel travelled to Cairo and Minia University. The aim of this activity was to check both IT-labs and the functionality of the installed hard- and software. Moreover, several discussions about the realisation process took place with colleagues and representatives from both universities as well as with representatives from the Arab Contractor and the Ministry of Transport in Cairo.

Both IT-labs are completely furnished, equipped and ready for usage. The European colleagues were able to attend the first exercises in Civil 3d and ArcGIS. Based on these experiences, some adjustments in the manner of demonstration were discussed and more learning material provided by TUD was exchanged.

Due to the close contact to the students it was possible to evaluate their first impressions of the updated curriculum at each partner university.  A detailed statement will be evaluated with the help of a questionnaire at the end of the current academic year.

A visit in the National TEMPUS Office Egypt (NTO) in Cairo was helpful to get more information about the entire TEMPUS Program itself and the support the NTO is able to give.

Beside this fact, a road construction site on the motorway from Cairo to Alexandria was visited. The site is operated by The Arab Contractor and comprises the road works itself and a mixing plant for asphalt and concrete  as well as a testlab for the quality control of the material.

With this activity, the first year of the project lifetime is over. The achievements which have been realized until now are the results of the great efforts of all project members. Maintaining this attitude will likely make the second half of the project successful as well.