The university is a center of expertise for the private sector, leveraging its vast resources and skilled personnel.

The emergency hospital is set to open before the middle of next year.

An integrated system to combat the falsification of academic theses.

Universities Should Be the Technical Office for Industry and the Main Center of Expertise for the Private Sector

This is how Prof. Mohamed Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, began his remarks, emphasizing the significant role universities play in offering scientific research, skilled personnel, professors, and vast expertise. These resources enable universities to provide technical, legal, and technological consultations to the private sector.

He highlighted that Ain Shams University has achieved a major milestone by increasing scientific publications in the humanities over the past period. Regarding the integration of scientific research with industry, Dr. Zain El-Abidin affirmed that Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education, strongly advocates for utilizing the outcomes of scientific research in industry. At Ain Shams University, considerable efforts are directed toward advancing the pharmaceutical industry. The university has signed two agreements with the private sector to leverage its research to enhance their investments, alongside establishing business incubators to nurture students' creative ideas and transform them into economic projects.

Dr. Zain El-Abedeen also noted that within three months, the system for combating the falsification of academic theses in Arabic will be completed, in addition to an Information Center dedicated to detecting falsified theses in English. He further announced that the first half of 2025 will witness a new addition to the medical city with the inauguration of the Emergency Hospital.

Below is the full interview conducted by Akhbar Al-Youm newspaper.

What is Ain Shams University's Role in the "A New Beginning for Building the Human" Initiative?

The presidential initiative "A New Beginning for Building the Human" is of utmost importance, and Ain Shams University has actively participated by contributing to the development of the Al-Asmarat neighborhood. This has been achieved through organizing numerous developmental convoys that provide health, psychological, and awareness services. These university convoys extend from Cairo to Upper Egypt and as far as Halayeb and Shalateen, embodying the university's national role. Any medical cases requiring surgical intervention during these convoys are referred for treatment at Ain Shams University hospitals. Additionally, the university plays a crucial role in raising awareness, particularly on issues like population growth and women's health. This aligns with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s directives to prioritize raising public awareness and emphasizing that fundamental development lies in building the human being.

Are You Satisfied with the University's Ranking in International Classifications?

Satisfaction will be achieved when Ain Shams University ranks number one in international classifications. It's important to note that each ranking system has its own set of criteria. Regarding international rankings such as Times Higher Education, Shanghai, Leiden, and SCImago, Ain Shams University consistently achieves advanced positions in criteria related to scientific publications and academic programs. However, some rankings emphasize the ratio of faculty members to students. With 220,000 students at Ain Shams University, there is a perception that the faculty size needs to increase. Despite this, the university has made significant progress, particularly in increasing scientific publications in the humanities. This is especially challenging as these programs are primarily taught in Arabic, whereas international journals require publication in English.

What Steps Have You Taken to Link Scientific Research with Industry?

Indeed, professors from the Faculty of Pharmacy are actively involved in drug development in collaboration with several companies through the Drug Development Center. The university should serve as a center of expertise, providing technical, legal, and technological consultations. Last week, we achieved a new milestone when an Egyptian company took a significant step forward in medical manufacturing, specifically in dental implants. We signed a cooperation protocol between the Faculty of Dentistry and the company to leverage the faculty’s expertise and capabilities. The faculty will act as a technical office to evaluate the company's projects and assess their economic feasibility. This approach is also being applied in the Faculties of Science and Pharmacy. Concrete steps have been taken, and further announcements will follow soon. Our efforts align with a comprehensive national project led by Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, aimed at positioning universities as the technical offices for industry.

Is the Private Sector Seeking Collaboration with the University to Benefit from Its Vast Expertise?

Indeed, we strive to adopt every feasible idea after assessing its economic viability. Business incubators are essential for transforming students' ideas into reality while offering our expertise to companies in the job market. Our latest collaboration involves an international company with a factory in Egypt specializing in household appliances. They faced production issues and approached us for solutions. A protocol was signed with the university’s Innovation Center to address their challenges. We aim to ensure that our collaboration with the investment sector has a strong and direct impact that reflects the reputation, competence, and academic excellence of Ain Shams University.

Universities Have Started Establishing Companies to Benefit from Scientific Research. What Steps Have You Taken in This Regard?

We have already begun, and we are currently in the final stages of completing the legal procedures to establish several companies. The first company we will establish is Ain Shams Company for Educational Services and Innovation. This company will handle the commercialization of scientific research outputs and their transformation into investment projects. Additionally, we plan to establish centers of expertise in medical and engineering fields to provide technical consultations. We also aim to utilize the university’s assets, particularly the Faculty of Agriculture, by leveraging its resources to achieve tangible production and marketing outcomes.

The University Plays a Major Role in Providing Medical Services and Community Development. What Are the Latest Efforts in This Area?

Ain Shams University hospitals play a significant role in delivering medical services, serving between 10,000 and 12,000 citizens daily. Most of these services are provided free of charge, and even the fees charged in certain cases are minimal. This commitment reflects our responsibility and duty toward the community. The greatest challenge and true achievement have been improving medical services without halting them, ensuring their continuity. This effort has been ongoing for years across successive administrations.

What Are the Latest Developments in the University’s Medical City?

We have rebuilt the Blood Bank to the highest standards and upgraded several facilities, including the Women’s Hospital, the Endocrine Surgery Unit, the Diagnostic Radiology and Stroke Center. To manage overcrowding, we constructed a perimeter wall and installed gates. We also prioritized the psychological and emotional well-being of the medical staff, patients, and visitors by creating gardens and recreational spaces. These serve as relaxation areas for patients, visitor waiting areas, and spaces for faculty members. It’s important to highlight the collaboration between the state and civil society in supporting the development of Ain Shams University’s Medical City.

When Will the New Emergency Hospital Be Inaugurated?

We are making rapid progress in completing the new Emergency Hospital, which will specialize in handling all emergency cases—a highly demanded medical specialty. The construction is nearly finished, all equipment is in place, and it is expected to open in the first half of 2025.

What Is the Progress on the Pediatric Surgery Hospital?

The Pediatric Surgery Hospital is currently under construction. The concrete structure has been completed, and we are working diligently to advance the project and open it as soon as possible.

How Has the University’s Genomics Lab Advanced Scientific Research?

The Genomics Lab is a significant step in advancing scientific research at the university. It plays a crucial role in improving medical treatments, especially in oncology, with impactful results in drug development. It has fostered interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly between the Faculties of Medicine and Pharmacy. The Genomics Lab is one of the reasons for the university’s improved global ranking. It underscores the principle that scientific research must have a tangible impact on the surrounding environment. The lab was conceived as a foundational infrastructure for genomic research, positioning Egypt as a hub in this field. Currently, it is the only certified center of its kind in the country.

What About the Use of AI in the Educational Process?

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been integrated into the educational programs of the Faculties of Computer Science and Engineering for some time. The focus is not just on theoretical study but also on practical applications. For instance, we are conducting an AI research project funded by Siemens in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine to detect lung tumors through a "virtual hospital." Dr. Aya Yassin is leading the project, which involves analyzing patient imaging using AI to provide diagnostic insights, particularly for lung and respiratory system tumors.

Recently, we started a pilot study with the Faculty of Commerce, funded by the Ministry of Higher Education and Microsoft, targeting third-year students. The study explores how AI can enhance students’ skills to align with labor market demands. Launched this academic year, it will run until the end of the first semester, after which the results will be evaluated to inform future educational strategies.

How Does the University Handle AI-Generated Academic Fraud?

We have an advanced system to detect plagiarism in academic theses. Our "Networks and Information Center" utilizes programs to assess the similarity of English-language research papers, which play a key role in evaluating academic work. This is part of the university's essential research infrastructure.

Currently, we are establishing a center to detect plagiarism and research theft in Arabic theses, aiming to implement strict evaluation standards, with a permissible similarity threshold of 15%. The new system will be fully launched within three months to minimize excessive plagiarism rates.

What Actions Are Taken Against Theses Exceeding Permitted Plagiarism Levels?

If high similarity is detected in a student’s thesis, it is returned for correction with a warning about improper practices. However, if the plagiarism levels are excessively high, it constitutes academic theft. In such cases, the university has taken strict actions, including canceling thesis registration and pursuing legal measures.

What About Literacy Efforts, Given Ain Shams University’s Notable Achievements?

We received UNESCO’s Literacy Award for our intensive efforts in this area, supported by our students. Currently, there are no illiterate individuals within the university’s surrounding community. We are now exploring ways to expand our reach to other areas. Community service is a core component of Egyptian universities, and Ain Shams contributes in various ways, including school renovations in partnership with Cairo Governorate.

What Are the Updates in the University’s Curriculum?

Our academic programs are distinguished by their high teaching and training standards, which are backed by Ain Shams University’s global reputation. For example, our "Cyber Security" program at the Faculty of Computer Science awards a joint degree with East London University.

What Steps Has the University Taken to Link Students with Labor Market Needs?

We regularly organize employment fairs throughout the year. The most recent fair, held last week, saw a significant turnout from students and the participation of 36 companies. Additionally, 35 workshops and lectures were conducted to inform students about labor market requirements.

How Has Curriculum Development Attracted International Students?

Ain Shams University enjoys a strong regional and international reputation, particularly in medicine, sciences, and engineering. The continuous development of academic programs has made the university a magnet for international students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. We aspire for 20% of Ain Shams University’s students to be international, especially at the postgraduate level. Currently, we’ve reached about 10%, with the majority enrolling in the Faculties of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy.