PhD defence Amira Gamal El-Din

Keywords: Public organizational resilience, Policy tools, Centralized decision making, Crisis communication  

"Resilience of Public Organizations: The Case of the Education Sector in Egypt"

This study investigates organizational resilience in public sector institutions, using Egypt’s education sector during the COVID-19 pandemic as a case. It addresses how resilience can be assessed, the specific dimensions and drivers present during disruption, and how policy tools vary across disruption phases. Employing qualitative methods—including interviews, document, and social media review—the research identifies that centralized decision-making and coordinated communication were crucial for stability and continuity. Digital preparedness and flexible operational rules further strengthened resilience, while consistent learning and evaluation across all disruption phases enhanced future readiness. The study highlights the importance of policy coherence, noting that Egypt’s education system achieved the greatest consistency during the pandemic’s coping phase. Financial support and engagement with social network actors were also vital. Ultimately, the findings emphasize that a coherent mix of policy tools and adaptive strategies is foundational for public organizations to effectively navigate and recover from disruptive events.

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