Headed by Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Metini, President of Ain Shams University, the first meeting of the Council of the International Relations and Academic Cooperation Sector was held, at the sector’s headquarters in the university city, in the presence of Prof. Dr. Abdel Fattah Saoud, Vice President for Education and Student Affairs, and Prof. Dr. Ayman Saleh, Vice President of Graduate Studies and Research, Prof. Dr. Ghada Farouk, Acting Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development, and Prof. Dr. Shahira Samir, Executive Director of the International Relations and Academic Cooperation Sector, and members of the Council.

In her speech, Prof. Shahira Samir, Executive Director of the International Relations and Academic Cooperation Sector, welcomed the audience and thanked the university administration for its continuous support since the decision to establish the sector was issued in February 2020.

During the meeting, what was done to lay the rules and foundations of the sector since its inception was presented in terms of the academic and administrative structure, the new location and its administrative and financial regulations, and communication with colleges to make a similar structure in each faculty to create a network of coordinators for all departments, the training of sector members and coordinators in various fields of the sector and participation in international conferences and holding monthly meetings was also reviewed.

Also, during the meeting, some proposals were discussed, including the inclusion of two members from inside or outside the university who have experience in the field of international relations in accordance with the regulations for the sector, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Refaat, Director of the Department of International Relations, presented a report on the activities of the Department of International Relations, Prof. Dr. Sherwat Al-Ahmadi, Director of the Department of International Students and Visiting Professors, reviewed a report on its administration, the report on the Department of Grants and Projects was presented by Professor Dr. Tamer Al-Nadi, the Director of the Grants and Projects Department, and Prof. Dr. Reem Al-Kabariti presented the report of the Department of Alumni Association, and Dr. Ahmed Al-Banna reviewed the report on the International Classification Department.

It is noteworthy that the International Relations and Academic Cooperation Sector at the university was established in 2020 by a decision of Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Metini, President of Ain Shams University, realizing the university’s management of its growing role and global position, to develop its international relations and academic cooperation with various internationally prestigious universities and research institutions, and to seek to attract more international students and visiting professors, as this step is the first of its kind at the level of Egyptian public universities.

The sector has five departments (the Department of International Cooperation, the Department of Newcomers and Visiting Professors, the Department of Grants and Projects, the Department of Ain Shams University Alumni Association, and the Department of International Classification).