The institute was originally established in 1975 as a branch of the Institute of Management. In October 1985, a ministerial approval granted it independence, and it became known as the Institute of Management and Computer Science in Heliopolis.
Historical Overview
In March 1990, Ministerial Decree No. 248 established a Hotel Studies division within the institute. This was followed by Ministerial Decree No. 1273 in September 1992, which restructured the Computer Science division into a four-year academic program divided into two stages. Students who successfully completed the first two years were awarded a diploma, while those who continued for an additional two years—subject to achieving at least a “Good” overall grade—earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science.
Ministerial Decree No. 1273 was issued on 24/9/1992 to develop the Computer Division at the Institute of Administration and Computer Science in Heliopolis, starting from the academic year 1992/1993. The study in this division became four academic years divided into two stages:
First Stage:
Duration: Two academic years.
Students who successfully complete this stage are awarded the Institute Diploma in the Computer Division.
Second Stage:
Duration: Two academic years.
Students from the Computer Division at the institute who obtain at least a “Good” overall grade are eligible to enroll in this stage. Those who successfully complete it are awarded a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science.
In February 2001, Ministerial Decree No. 265 amended this system, replacing the two-stage structure with a continuous four-year program.
The institute’s name was officially changed in July 1994 to the Institute of Specialized Studies in Heliopolis. Later, in November 2001, Ministerial Decree No. 1535 upgraded its status to the Higher Institute for Specialized Studies in Heliopolis. The institute offers four-year bachelor’s degree programs accredited by the Minister of Higher Education and operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education.
In December 2001, Ministerial Decree No. 1705 approved the implementation of a unified curriculum for Management Information Systems, aligned with standards set by the Supreme Council of Universities. This step aimed to facilitate equivalency with bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration (Management Information Systems) granted by Egyptian universities, effective from the 2001/2002 academic year.
Earlier, in November 1992, Ministerial Decree No. 1531 had restructured the Tourism and Hotels division into a continuous four-year program beginning in the 1992/1993 academic year, following the academic model of the Faculty of Tourism and Hotels at Helwan University.
In February 2017, Ministerial Decree No. 996 introduced a unified updated regulation for tourism and hospitality institutes, effective from the 2017/2018 academic year.
Most recently, in November 2021, Ministerial Decree No. 6576 approved the institute’s credit-hour system curriculum and academic content for the Business Information Systems program, aligned with national reference frameworks, and implemented starting from the 2021/2022 academic year.
Distinctive Features of the Institute
Advantages of the Institute :
- All academic degrees awarded by the institute are accredited by the Supreme Council of Universities and approved by the Minister of Higher Education, allowing graduates to pursue postgraduate studies at equivalent colleges.
- The institute is also an active member of the Association of Arab Universities.
- It is staffed by a distinguished selection of highly qualified faculty members and teaching assistants across various academic specializations. Classrooms and lecture halls are spacious, air-conditioned, and equipped with modern educational technologies such as overhead projectors and data-show systems.
- Computer laboratories feature the latest hardware, are fully networked, and equipped with advanced software and interactive tools, all connected to high-speed internet.
- The Hospitality Management Department includes a fully equipped training restaurant and teaching kitchen with modern equipment, enabling students to gain hands-on practical experience aligned with industry needs. Its computer labs also provide specialized hotel reservation systems such as Opera (Oracle Hospitality).
- The Tourism Studies Department offers a fully simulated travel agency environment where students train on airline ticketing procedures, supported by advanced reservation software such as Amadeus, connected to online systems.
- The Tour Guiding Department features a model museum displaying replicas of Egyptian artifacts from various historical periods, including Ancient Egyptian, Greco-Roman, Coptic, and Islamic eras.
- The institute hosts an accredited Microsoft Training Center that provides students with internationally recognized IT certifications. It has also established a partnership agreement with Oracle Academy, specializing in database technologies.
- The institute administration provides flexible payment options for tuition fees to accommodate students’ personal circumstances. In addition, merit-based scholarships are awarded annually to top-performing students as follows:
- – First place: full tuition exemption
- – Second place: 50% tuition reduction
- – Third place: 25% tuition reduction
- Each year, the institute organizes a career fair to connect graduates with suitable employment opportunities.
Equivalency of Certificates
All bachelor’s degrees awarded by the institute across its various academic programs are officially recognized as equivalent to the corresponding bachelor’s degrees granted by Egyptian universities in related fields.