The Supreme Council of Universities held its regular meeting, headed by Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in the presence of Dr. Muhammad Latif, Secretary of the Council and members of the Council.

The council thanked the family of Ain Shams University, headed by Dr. Mahmoud El-Metini, for hosting the meeting of the Supreme Council of Universities.

The Minister of Higher Education directed the continuous daily follow-up to the process of vaccinating all elements of the educational system against the Corona virus, in implementation of the directives of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, President of the Republic, and the decisions of the Crisis Committee headed by Dr. He stressed that students will not be allowed to enter the university campus after November 15, except after submitting a certificate proving that they have obtained the vaccine, and in the event that the student does not receive the vaccine, he can perform a “PCR” analysis that he submits weekly.

The Minister affirmed full compliance with the decisions of the Crisis Committee, with regard to not allowing employees in state institutions to enter their premises, starting from November 15, except for those who have received a vaccination against the Corona virus.

The Minister stressed the need for universities to continue to apply all precautionary measures, and to adhere to social distancing for all those present on the campus, as well as to intensify disinfection and sterilization operations for stadiums, classrooms, laboratories and various college buildings; and applying the same procedures in university cities, to ensure the safety of all elements of the educational system.

The Minister directed to start announcing the annual competition for universities in the areas of preparing for the start of the 2021-2022 school year, community service and environmental development focusing on literacy, in addition to international publishing competitions and the application of scientific research in industry, digital transformation, and cultural, artistic and sports activities.

The Minister directed universities to raise academic curricula on digital platforms, to facilitate students’ access to curricula, stressing the need for full discipline in the educational process in universities, stressing the role of university and college leaders in following up study schedules.

The Minister stressed the need for universities to cooperate in implementing the "Decent Life" initiative in all areas of cooperation in the areas of literacy, health and veterinary care, awareness convoys and other areas of joint cooperation, in which universities have great and distinguished expertise, and to submit periodic reports on the role of universities in this regard.

The Minister thanked the universities for their outstanding efforts during the past period in eradicating illiteracy in all governorates, stressing that the issue of illiteracy eradication will be of special importance and will come at the top of university work priorities during the coming period, within the framework of the universities' social and national responsibility.

Dr. Abdel Ghafar also directed, in cooperation with the “Dignified Life” Initiative and the Adult Education Authority, to eradicate illiteracy in the Egyptian rural villages covered by the “Dignified Life” initiative, stressing the provision of all aspects of support needed by universities; To enable it to play its national role in facing this challenge.

The minister also directed to activate the role of universities in raising awareness of the population issue during the coming period, through the various educational means that universities possess, to educate 3 million male and female students in universities and institutes of the dimensions of the population issue and its economic and social impacts on Egyptian society.

The council thanked Dr. Maged Negm, the former president of Helwan University, for his fruitful efforts in serving and developing the university, wishing him continued success and success, and gifting him the shield of the Supreme Council of Universities.

The Council also thanked Dr. Rasha Kamal, head of the Central Administration for International Student Affairs, for her fruitful efforts in developing the system for the management of expatriates, during the last period.

The Council witnessed the signing of a cooperation protocol between the Supreme Council of Universities, with the secretariat of Dr. Muhammad Latif and the Supreme Council of Antiquities in the Secretariat d. Mustafa Waziri, in the presence of Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Dr. Khaled El-Anany, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, and the protocol includes the implementation of the directives of the President of the Republic to develop the system of international students studying in the Arab Republic of Egypt, in light of the “Study in Egypt” initiative, as a national initiative that joins hands to achieve all state agencies and institutions, as this protocol allows providing all facilities by the Supreme Council of Antiquities for students coming to visit archaeological sites and museums in Egypt; To get acquainted with the Egyptian civilization, and according to this protocol, the incoming student will be treated like the Egyptian student in entering archaeological sites and museums.

Dr. Walaa Sheta, head of the Science, Technology and Innovation Financing Authority, gave a presentation on the authority’s activities and various mechanisms to support the Egyptian scientific research and innovation system, which is implemented in cooperation with Egyptian universities and research centers or with international participation with the largest international universities, explaining that during the previous fiscal year the authority contracted to implement research projects worth up to 1.1 billion pounds, which included establishing new centers of excellence and supporting research in basic, applied and technological sciences, noting that the authority is implementing a national initiative to support free scientific publishing (Open Access) in cooperation with the Egyptian Knowledge Bank, so that all benefit from it. Professors and researchers in Egyptian universities and research centers, whether they are affiliated with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research or any other ministry, thus removing the burden on Egyptian researchers, by financing international publishing expenses in distinguished journals, and this contributes to placing Egyptian scientific institutions in the position they deserve, as well as encouraging the expansion of citing Egyptian research and opening new horizons for international cooperation.

The Council heard a presentation by Dr. Ghada Bassiouni, Professor at the Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University and director of the project to raise energy efficiency in Egyptian universities, about the project to raise energy efficiency in Egyptian universities, which aims to improve energy consumption in government university buildings and preserve the environment, in coordination with the Supreme Council of Universities.

The council discussed a proposal on establishing centers for developing future skills and competencies in universities, which aims to develop the skills of university students and graduates for future jobs. These centers will use experts in skills development in the field of future jobs. The council will discuss, in its upcoming meetings, the executive vision for establishing these centers, their modus operandi, and their regulations Executive.The Council reviewed a report on the implementation of the national project to preserve the entity of the Egyptian family "Mawaddah", which is carried out in cooperation between the Ministries of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Social Solidarity. Psychological and social aspects, medical, religious and legal dimensions related to family relations, in addition to communication and social interaction skills. The report also indicated the program’s success in training 287 faculty members in a number of universities; To contribute to increasing the number of trainers in "Mawaddah" program at the university level. The Minister directed the necessity of submitting periodic reports to the Supreme Council of Universities by the Supreme Committee formed by the Ministries of Higher Education and Social Solidarity in this regard.

The Council approved the standards that must be available in training bodies for the sixth year of pharmacy students, including (hospitals). Universities (pharmaceutical companies and factories).