Founded in 2010, Deraya University is a launchpad for talent with a global outlook. From our home in Minya, we’re a thriving community of ~7,500 students, 5,100+ alumni, and four colleges—Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Dentistry, and Business—advancing health, enterprise, and opportunity across Egypt and beyond.
Deraya University in Minya Governorate was established in 2010 by Presidential Decree No. 91/2010 as the second private university in southern Egypt. Today, the university offers 7 undergraduate and 2 graduate programs through four colleges: Pharmacy, Physical therapy, Dentistry, and Business Administration. As an emerging higher education institution in Egypt, specifically in Upper Egypt, Deraya University is committed to upholding John Dewey’s philosophy that “education is not a preparation for life; Education is life itself.” We aspire to unleash the potential of our students as well as our graduates by exploring many areas of knowledge.
1- A professional, personally, and ethically well-rounded graduate capable of competing.
2- Comprehensive governance of both academic and administrative bodies.
3- Distinguished scientific research with significant impact.
4- Enhancement and expansion of regional and community engagement.
5- Achieving leadership in international cooperation and foreign partnerships.
6- Attaining quality education and accreditation.
7- Technological transformation and advanced infrastructure.
We expand access to rigorous, practice-based education in Upper Egypt and graduate professionals who uplift the communities they come from.
Project, clinic, and lab-based education linked to real needs in health, business, and the regional economy.
Faculty–student projects aimed at measurable improvements in public health, clinical care, and SME development.
Strong clinical and industry partnerships, internships, and career services that help students transition into meaningful work.
Outreach and clinical services that deliver tangible benefits — 50,000+ patient visits to date.
International opportunities that broaden horizons while keeping learners grounded in Upper Egypt’s priorities.
As of October 2025.
2010
Academic Year 2014/15
~7,500 current enrollment
5,100+ graduates
50,000+ patient visits through our clinics and outreach programs
We believe students learn best when they see—and try—more of the world. Deraya offers:
• Short programs and study visits with partner institutions to experience different academic and cultural contexts.
• Visiting faculty and joint workshops that bring international perspectives into our classrooms and labs.
• Student exchanges and internships—from hospitals and clinics to start-ups and NGOs—preparing graduates to work across borders and standards.
• Global classrooms at home, through co-taught modules, virtual exchange, and internationally benchmarked learning outcomes.
Deraya was created by Egyptian educators and business leaders determined to broaden access to quality higher education in Upper Egypt. After its establishment in 2010, the university admitted its first cohort of undergraduate freshmen in the 2014/15 academic year and has steadily expanded programs, facilities, and clinical services. From the outset, Deraya’s governance emphasized academic excellence, employability, and community service—principles that continue to guide strategy and investment today.
An education leader who helped set the vision for Deraya’s role in Upper Egypt and chaired the early development efforts that shaped the university’s mission.
A pioneering global entrepreneur and philanthropist whose early backing supported Deraya’s establishment and its long-term commitment to education and social impact.
Senior academic and higher-education leader; chairs the Board of Trustees and steers institutional strategy and governance. Previously served as Vice-President for the African Development Bank.
Business leader with governance roles across multiple regional enterprises; supports Deraya’s partnerships and long-term stewardship.
Entrepreneur and investor. Focuses on institutional development, investment, construction, international collaboration, and community impact initiatives.
In addition to Deraya’s founders, the Board of Trustees brings together higher-education leadership, health-sector expertise, and regional enterprise experience.
Former Dean of Engineering at the American University of Dubai. Chair of Egypt’s National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Education.
Veteran academic/administrator
with extensive experience
in Egyptian higher education; advises
on construction.
Experienced higher education leader. Professor of medicine specialized in chest and pulmonary diseases.
• Internationalize the student experience through more exchanges, visiting scholars, and co-taught courses with global partners.
• Scale practice-based learning, adding labs, simulation, and clinical placements that match employer needs.
• Grow research capacity focused on health outcomes, digital transformation, and regional development.
• Extend community health services across Minya and neighboring governorates.
• Expand flexible and online delivery to widen access for learners across Upper Egypt.
