A Scottish university has increased its influence over shaping the future of nurse education in the Middle East.

Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh yesterday revealed it had signed a deal to create a new nursing faculty at the University of Egypt in Cairo.

The university has already worked in Saudi Arabia with businesses and the British Council to establish a college of nursing studies in Jeddah, which opened last September with 50 students.

That initiative reflected a move within the kingdom to encourage and train Saudi Arabian nationals in professions previously dominated by people from the Philippines and India.

The latest deal, which will create the Maghraby International College of Nursing in Cairo, follows an agreement between Queen Margaret, the British University of Egypt and the charity Al Noor Foundation.

The principal and vice-chancellor at Queen Margaret University, Professor Anthony Cohen, said: "This agreement builds on the pioneering work we have begun in Jeddah to develop nursing education in Saudi Arabia and underlines our status as international leaders in health education."

Consultant ophthalmologist Dr Akef Maghraby, who runs the Foundation and has been working with Queen Margaret in Jeddah, said: "The approach to learning and teaching at Queen Margaret University, which aims to develop students as independent critical learners, will have a significantly positive effect in enhancing the quality of nursing education in Egypt."

The Maghraby International College of Nursing in Cairo is due to open in September this year with 50 student places.