The Supreme Council of Universities held its periodic meeting, headed by Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, on Saturday, in the presence of Dr. Muhammad Latif, Secretary of the Council and members of the Council, at the South Valley University branch in the Red Sea Governorate.

At the beginning of the meeting, the council thanked the family of South Valley University, headed by Dr. Youssef Gharbawi, for hosting the meeting of the Supreme Council of Universities.

At the outset of his speech, the Minister reviewed the results of his visit to the British capital, London, where he participated at the head of a delegation from the Ministry in the activities of the Higher Education Investment Forum in London. To attend a number of sessions that dealt with several important issues on investing in higher education, and enhancing opportunities for cooperation in education across borders between the two countries, adding that he visited City University of London and met with parties and institutions concerned with the development of higher education in the United Kingdom and a number of prestigious English universities; To discuss many important topics, most notably the discussion of the executive steps to establish a branch of the University of Southampton in Egypt, and the discussion of cooperation in the continuous training of cadres of faculty staff, the granting of dual degrees, and the international educational paths that are planned to be established.

The Minister also reviewed the results of his participation in an expanded ministerial meeting on the launch of the Gifted Education Fund in the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), which was held in the Kingdom of Morocco, and participation in the first consultative meeting of the organization and the Global Knowledge Project in Rabat. In addition to delivering Egypt's speech during the opening session of the 43rd session of the Executive Council of ISESCO, meeting with the Moroccan Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, to discuss ways of joint cooperation, and proposing an Egyptian-Moroccan cultural and educational exchange project, in addition to meeting with the Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, and Employment, and Moroccan competencies; to consolidate and strengthen the bonds of partnership between the two countries.

Dr. Ayman Ashour pointed out his field visit to 500 500 Hospital to follow up on the ongoing operational work in the hospital; in preparation for the opening of the first phase of the project; To provide medical services to thousands of patients, in addition to visiting the medical city at Ain Shams University; To follow up on the implementation rates of the medical city, which will be a strong addition to the health care system in Egypt.

The minister referred to his meetings during the month of December with the ministers of higher education in the countries (Yemen, Sudan, and Morocco), and the ambassadors of the countries (Lebanon, Jordan, India, Italy) in Cairo, and the meetings dealt with discussing mechanisms to enhance and support joint scientific and research cooperation, as well as exchanging visions and ideas on Common issues, overcoming obstacles that students may face, and encouraging the signing of cooperation protocols between Egyptian universities and their counterparts in Arab and foreign countries, to exchange experiences and scientific visits and to enhance scientific and research cooperation, as well as to review the efforts of the Ministry of Higher Education to encourage students to study in Egypt within the framework of the presidential initiative "Study in Egypt".

The minister added that he met with a delegation from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to discuss the latest developments in the project to establish professional development centers in Egyptian universities, the “Pioneers” scholarship program offered by the agency in a number of disciplines, the distinguished teacher initiative, and the project to develop faculties of education in Egyptian universities, referring to his meeting with the higher education team of the World Bank and the International Labor Organization; To discuss prospects for cooperation with international organizations to support the strategy of higher education in the next stage, which includes providing support in 4 main areas, which are building the necessary capacities in study programs for cross-sciences, supporting innovation and entrepreneurship programs, supporting professional development and skills improvement programs, and providing support for student exchange programs. In addition to discussing scholarships and scholarships for faculty staff and qualifying cadres in the design of interstitial programs.

The minister also referred to his meeting with the Chairman of the Board of Directors of El Sevier to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between the two sides to support Egyptian researchers and to provide insights and proposals on implementing the initiatives launched by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. To link the results of scientific research to the bodies and institutions capable of applying and implementing them, as well as linking research outputs to the needs of industry and the local and international community.

Dr. Ayman Ashour added that he met with the Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for Science, to discuss cooperation mechanisms in the fields of higher education, scientific research and innovation, joint coordination in the implementation of activities that serve the Ministry’s strategy and plan (2022-2032), and cooperation in designing inter-study programs that are among the Ministry’s priorities; To achieve integration between the different academic disciplines, as well as to cooperate in the implementation of joint research projects, and to discuss ways of cooperation in projects to develop archaeological sites.

Dr. Ayman Ashour reviewed his participation in the activities of the meetings of the 44th regular session of the Union of Arab Scientific Research Councils, to discuss and develop a new vision for the council and develop it in line with the changes and developments taking place in the world in general, and the Arab world in particular, in addition to discussing the activation of the Joint Arab Fund to support and finance scientific research, and support Introducing and developing effective mechanisms in research work.

The minister referred to the ministry’s participation in the activities of the 26th session of the International Technology Forum and Exhibition for the Middle East and Africa for the year 2022 (Cairo ICT 2022), which witnessed the signing of a cooperation protocol between the Ministry of Higher Education, the “Sonaa Al-Khair Foundation for Development” and the “e-finance” group for financial and digital investments; With the aim of providing full scholarships to students of Technological Universities.

The minister praised the unprecedented progress of universities and research centers in the international rankings of universities and research centers during the year 2022, noting that 36 Egyptian universities were included in the British Times classification for sustainable development, and 24 Egyptian universities were included in the Chinese Shanghai classification for academic disciplines, as well as 19 Egyptian universities were included in the global classification "US NEWS", and the inclusion of 42 Egyptian universities in the Spanish Simago classification, in addition to the inclusion of 76 Egyptian educational and research institutions in the Spanish Webometrics classification, and for the first time, a classification of research centers in the Middle East and North Africa has been launched in the Simago Global Index, which confirmed the leadership of research centers at the regional level.

The minister also praised the efforts of universities in organizing student union elections for the academic year 2022/2023, which were held from November 24 to December 8, and witnessed the participation of 28,210 male and female students in 445 faculties, pointing to an increase in the number of students participating in the elections by about 2,000 male and female students on the number of students who ran in previous years, and congratulated the students who won the elections.

The Minister directed to assign the Committee of the Physical Education Sector to conduct a nationwide survey of first-year students in universities, to determine the causes of obesity, poor physical fitness, and widespread body deformities, and to present a scientific map at the level of the Republic to identify symptoms, causes, and methods of treatment, and this will be within the research plan of the faculties of physical education for the second semester.

The Council reviewed the competition launched by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, a competition under the slogan "Together" for the production of short videos; To help develop students’ awareness in facing destructive and abnormal ideas, deepen their sense of loyalty and belonging, immunize them against abnormal and destructive ideas, and create a generation capable of building and creativity.

The minister directed that public and private universities and affiliated research centers continue to provide financial support to the Egyptian Knowledge Bank.

The Council affirmed the support of the universities’ efforts in cooperation with the Adult Education Authority in eradicating illiteracy, in continuation of the universities’ success in eradicating the illiteracy of 395,000 citizens during the past year, within the framework of the universities’ social and national responsibility, as the issue of illiteracy comes at the top of the priorities of university work during the coming period.

The Council also affirmed the universities' continued full cooperation with the "Decent Life" initiative by intensifying medical, veterinary, and agricultural convoys, educational seminars, events, and various activities, and positively contributing to capacity building in the health, environmental, veterinary, and social fields. To activate the role of universities in community service and environmental development.

In its meeting, the Council also affirmed that professional syndicates must respect the Council’s original competencies conferred upon it by the Universities Regulation Law, as it is the only body entrusted with equalizing graduate degrees from universities and institutes inside and outside Egypt, and it is also the only body entrusted with determining the numbers of students accepted in all disciplines annually.

The Council also affirmed that the universities will continue to support students of determination, in continuation of the decisions and procedures it has taken to ensure the preservation of the rights of people of determination in universities, including the comprehensive exemption from tuition fees, the exemption from the expenses of university cities, the provision of comprehensive treatment in university hospitals for free, and the provision of printing presses for printing books. "Braille" for people with visual disabilities, providing laboratories, halls, and computers, allocating places for their movements and transportation in universities, holding competitions and student activities to develop their skills and abilities, and providing all facilities for them to join university cities.

Dr. Adel Abdel Ghaffar, media advisor and spokesperson for the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, stated that the minister directed the universities to be fully prepared to hold exams at the end of the first semester of the current academic year in all universities and institutes on the dates previously decided by the Supreme Council of Universities, and to stress the importance of the regularity of faculty staff, the teaching assistants and the administrative staff throughout examination period, to ensure the regularity and smooth conduct of examinations in universities and institutes.

The spokesperson added that the council approved the draft agreement attached to the executive agreement for the energy efficiency improvement project in university buildings funded by the German Redevelopment Credit Bank.

The council listened to a presentation by Dr. Rasha Badri, Director of the National Bank for Scientific Laboratories and Equipment, about the bank’s objectives and the benefits it provides to universities and researchers, work mechanisms, and its role in rationalizing resources.

In this context, the Council approved the launch of the website of the National Bank for Scientific Laboratories and Equipment www.nbsle.scu.eg. The site is characterized by the possibility of registering and updating the data of laboratories and equipment in Egyptian universities in the database of the National Bank for Scientific Laboratories and Equipment, browsing and searching for devices, their characteristics, and their location on The level of universities and knowing the cost of the service provided by the research staff,

In addition to the presence of a Dashboard control panel and the ability to extract the necessary statistical reports for decision-makers in universities.

The Council was informed of the decision of the Council of Ministers regarding the approval of the establishment of the Faculty of Science at Luxor University.