E-training for heritage - Heritage - Al-Ahram Weekly
In a further step towards digital transformation and human capacity building, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities launched this week the country's first-ever electronic training platform dedicated to tourism and antiquities, EGTAP.
The initiative is designed to offer a wide range of accredited and professional training programmes to enhance the skills and competencies of workers, students, and researchers in both sectors. The platform also supports the ministry's broader strategy of building qualified human resources capable of keeping pace with global changes and the adoption of modern technology in service delivery.
The EGTAP platform features a rich and dynamic content library, offering diverse training modules, workshops, and certification programmes. Developed in collaboration with top academic and industry experts, the courses are tailored to meet the evolving needs of the public and private sectors. They also include continuous assessments for both trainers and trainees to ensure effective learning outcomes.
The platform will undergo regular updates with new training content to align with sector needs, including topics like sustainable tourism, food safety, marketing, management, and hospitality. It currently provides free online courses and will soon offer additional recorded programmes across various disciplines. Upon successful completion, participants receive accredited electronic certificates.
'Developing human capacity is a cornerstone of improving service quality and boosting the competitiveness of Egypt's tourism sector,' Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy said.
'EGTAP is a pivotal step in leveraging digital technology to strengthen Egypt's tourism and antiquities sectors,' said Mohamed Shaaban, assistant to the minister for digital services. He added that platform users can create personal profiles and enrol in training courses suited to their professional and educational backgrounds.
He added that EGTAP as a cutting-edge response to the evolving training demands of the tourism sector. Developed in partnership with the Egyptian Tourism Federation and other specialised agencies, the platform combines academic rigour with practical relevance, catering to diverse professional backgrounds and expertise.
Ahmed Rahima, assistant to the minister for human resources and head of the ministry's Central Training Unit, underscored that EGTAP not only delivers training but also supports career path development and equal access to skill-building opportunities. It offers specialised programmes in archaeology, museums, human development, scientific research, arts and architecture, civilisation and history, excavation sciences, and entrepreneurship.
He said that the platform aligns with Egypt Vision 2030, particularly the focus on sustainable development and investing in human resources. EGTAP aims to modernise labour market efficiency by offering continuous, flexible, and digitally driven training solutions that reflect real-world demands and rapid technological shifts, he added.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 6 August, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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