Rowan expands global reach with medical education MOU in Egypt

Rowan University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the School of Medicine at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, an MOU that will potentially expand Rowan’s footprint and draw greater numbers of international students.

One of Egypt’s largest private universities, AASTMT enrolls approximately 30,000 students from more than 20 countries, making it a major hub for international education.

The agreement was brokered by Morris Kalliny, Ph.D., Rowan’s Vice President for Global Affairs and Dean of the School of Professional Studies, who has been instrumental in building Rowan’s global partnership network.

“The current MOU is specifically for the medical school,” Kalliny said. “It lays the groundwork for collaboration in medical education and student exchange.”

Kalliny was joined in Egypt by Dr. Richard Jermyn, dean of Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, for the ceremonial signing at AASTMT’s El-Alamein campus.

“Dr. Jermyn has a global mindset for medical education,” Kalliny said. “His dream is to bring Egyptian students to Rowan for summer shadowing experiences and, eventually, send our medical students to Egypt for similar exchanges.”

Medical education in Egypt differs significantly from in the U.S., largely due to limited access to advanced technology and equipment, Kalliny said. To bridge this gap, Rowan and AASTMT plan to launch short-term training programs in New Jersey, giving Egyptian students firsthand exposure to Rowan’s medical education environment.

“In the U.S., and especially at Rowan-Virtua SOM, we’re fortunate to not only have the greatest technology for healing and wellness in the world but to be in a position to teach it to our students,” said SOM Dean Richard Jermyn, D.O. “To also be in a position to export our knowledge and to improve healthcare globally is truly gratifying.”

While the MOU is not binding, AASTMT administrators are enthusiastic about the partnership, promoting it through social media campaigns and other outreach, Kalliny said.

“Rowan’s name is getting out there,” he noted. “One great benefit is attracting international students who might not otherwise know about us.”

Building on previous agreements

This Nov. 3 agreement follows two other MOUs that Rowan signed in 2025:

• In July, the University established a broad collaboration framework with AASTMT, opening doors for academic partnerships across multiple disciplines.
• In October, it signed an MOU with a Turkish university to advance global health sciences initiatives, further strengthening Rowan’s international presence.

Kalliny said these agreements reflect Rowan’s strategic goal of becoming a global institution.

“We’ve done a great job making Rowan a regional institution, but now we want to be known globally,” he said. “MOUs formalize relationships and often lead to collaborative programs like 2+2 undergraduate pathways or 1+1 master’s programs.”

Why global partnerships matter

Rowan, with nearly 25,000 students across multiple campuses in southern New Jersey, operates two medical schools and the new Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine. It also has a robust study abroad program that it seeks to expand.

“We want our students to be global citizens,” Kalliny said. “Exposure to different cultures and ways of thinking helps students navigate cultural differences and broadens their perspectives.”

Looking ahead, Rowan expects visits from AASTMT’s president and senior administrators, and discussions are underway with Rowan’s Rohrer College of Business for potential MBA and supply chain program collaborations.

“This is laying the foundation for program-level partnerships that will come next,” Kalliny said.