Interviewer: Doaa Abdelghany

1.HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: As an instructor of the Professional Educators Diploma, why did you choose to focus on incorporating the arts with STEM education? And how do you think this can benefit students of future generations?

Mohammed Rizkallah: STEM Education is a very appealing name to corporations, and a lot of money is invested in breeding “future generations of engineers”, without understanding what education is all about. Education shouldn’t “breed”, but rather foster children’s skills and interests. The arts can be really interesting to students, but focus on maths and science can kill that interest in pursuit of the perfect grade.

2.HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: With your experience in training and developing public school principals and administrators, what would you consider to be some of the main problems that they tend to face? And how do you manage them?

Mohammed Rizkallah: There are 2 main problems. The first one is the fact that these people have never ever had the opportunity to express themselves. I’d be sitting with a 60 year old who would talk for hours because he has so much bottled up and no one was there to listen, especially those who are considered superiors in the organizational ladder.

Another problem is the lack of resources. I can’t expect a school leader to apply what we have discussed together if the windows of her classroom are broken or a child got hurt because a door fell on him.

3.HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: Starting out as an undergraduate with a physics major, what inspired you to delve into the field of education and training educators?

Mohammed Rizkallah: I had offers to work in the Gulf area as a physicist in the oil industry. It didn’t make sense to me. I wanted to do something that will benefit Egypt. I am really passionate about communication and knowledge, so teaching and education was the obvious track.

4.HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: As a professor in AUC, what are the main qualifications and personality characteristics that a university professor should have in order to make an impact?

Mohammed Rizkallah: Communication, empathy, and passion.

5.HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: As the CEO and founder of Hypatia Educational Services, did you consider expanding it into an institution?

Mohammed Rizkallah: Working on it! Wait for big things soon. Currently we write curricula, and I believe we are writing the best curricula on Earth!

6.HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: If so, based on what criteria would you recruit people to offer these services?

Mohammed Rizkallah: Passion. That’s all I need.

7.HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: How has your knowledge in the field of STEM education changed your approach with your students?

Mohammed Rizkallah: I listen to student more. I build on what they’re interested in rather than tell them what I think is right. Obviously I tend to suggest things that I think are “more right”, but I need to work on that and get the students to practice complete autonomy.

8.HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: On a lighter note, what do you like to spend your free time doing?

Mohammed Rizkallah: Footy, slumber, and reflecting.

9.HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: If you were given the chance to be the Minister of Education in Egypt, what would you change? And why?

Mohammed Rizkallah: Big question, might need a whole book. But I’d invest a lot in human capital, and start with the teachers.

10.HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: What’s one piece of advice you usually give the educators you teach?

Mohammed Rizkallah: Reflect.

HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: Thank you.

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