Evaluation of the technological planning program, Cairo University/Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Special evaluation covers the period 12/76-2/80 and is based in part on interviews with personnel from Egyptian ministries, CU, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the contractor. The project has achieved most of its objectives. Fourteen collaborative research projects have been developed by MIT faculty, their CU counterparts, and various ministries, focusing on: (1) energy: a project to provide personnel capable of long-term investment planning for the electric power system; (2) manufacturing: projects to strengthen engineering technology and to analyze the effect of government policy on small private industry; (3) public works: recommendations and guidelines for public agencies concerned with housing; identification of housing problems; studies of urban and intercity transportation and of groundwater reservoirs; development of water planning models and a model for operating the Aswan Dam; programs in crop irrigation and agriculture drainage planning; and (4) socioeconomic development: projects in rural communications, labor migration and manpower planning, health delivery systems, and improved sectoral and macroeconomic planning. The research projects have had an impact upon larger programs underway in Egypt and many recommendations have already been implemented. Through these research efforts, and through workshops, conferences, seminars, and extensive publications, the project has increased awareness of the value of cooperation between ministry and academic personnel, upgraded the technical quality of CU faculty, established solid professional relationships between MIT and CU faculty, and developed a nucleus of people who can contribute to the resolution of development problems. Progress has also been made toward institutionalizing a framework for exposing decisionmakers to research in project/program evaluation. A Development Research and Technological Planning Center has been established at CU to solve developmental problems, support technological development, and provide a capability for rapid retrieval of essential data.