American University in Cairo

Founded in 1919, AUC is a leading English-language, American-accredited institution of higher education and center of intellectual, social and cultural life of the Arab world. Its community of students, parents, faculty and staff, trustees, alumni and other generous sponsors represent more than 60 countries. The University stands as a crossroads for the world’s cultures and a vibrant forum for reasoned argument, spirited debate and understanding across the diversity of languages, facilities and human experiences.

The University is committed to teaching and research of the highest caliber, and offers exceptional liberal arts and professional education in a cross-cultural environment. AUC builds a culture of leadership, lifelong learning, continuing education and service among its graduates, and is dedicated to making significant contributions to Egypt and the international community in diverse fields.

On Access to Knowledge for Development:

The Access to Knowledge for Development Center (A2K4D) at the School of Business at the American University in Cairo was launched in 2010 as a culmination of collaborative research and advocacy on the equitable production and distribution of knowledge goods and tools. The Centeris a leading member in various global, regional and local research partnerships. A2K4D is a founding member of the Access to Knowledge Global Academy (A2KGA), with partners at Yale Law School in the United States together with partners in Brazil, China, India and South Africa. A2K4D is also a participating center in the Global Network of Internet and Society Research Centers (NoC), anchored by Harvard University’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society. The Center is also part of the CopyrightX affiliate community, led by Harvard Law School, the HarvardX distance-learning initiative and the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society.   Regionally, the Center is the founding node of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Open Data for Development Partnership (OD4D) and the North African Hub of the Open African Innovation Research Partnership (Open AIR).   On the local front, A2KD collaborates with several civil society partners including Internet Masr. A2K4D engages in interdisciplinary research on the economics of knowledge, technology and development. Adopting a paradigm of openness, the Center’s research focuses on digital platforms, entrepreneurship, innovation, data, knowledge governance, new business models and inclusion in the digital economy in the Middle East and Africa. Recent research zooms in on the impact of new technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, such as Artificial Intelligence, on inclusion. The center adopts a grounds-up, evidence-based approach to address national and regional developmental needs. Through research, dissemination and global engagement, A2K4D brings local issues to the forefront of global development debates.