In its session held on Monday, December 25, under the chairmanship of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of the University, the Ain Shams University Council honored the work team of the Egyptian Center for the International Institute for Distance Education, based in the Education Development Department at Ain Shams University, for winning the Leadership Award in the Digitization of Higher Education UNESCO- ICHEI digitalization pioneer case award 2023, under the auspices of the International Center for Innovation in Higher Education of UNESCO-ICHEI, for the center’s achievements in the project to empower Egyptian higher education institutions in the field of digital education and learning, which is one of the center’s activities.

This came in the presence of Prof. Muhammad Awad Taj El-Din, Advisor to the President of the Republic for Health and Prevention Affairs and Member of the University Council, Prof. Ahmed Zaki Badr, former Minister of Local Development and member of the University Council, Prof. Ghada Farouk, Vice President of the University for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs, and distinguished members of the Council.

The work team consisted of: Prof. Mona Abdel-Al Al-Zahri, Executive Director of the Education Development Department, Director of the Egyptian Center for the International Institute for Distance Education, and Head of the Project Team, Dr. Dalia Youssef, Director of the Central Unit for E-Learning and Deputy Director of the Egyptian Center for the International Institute for Distance Education, Prof. Hani Youssef, Head of the Training Department at the Central Unit for E-Learning, Dr. Heba Shawqi, Project Coordinator in the Central Unit for E-Learning and Prof. Doaa Anas, member of the central unit for e-learning, and Dr. Aya Abdel Latif and Dr. Mohamed Yousry, members of the project team.

Prof. Mona Abdel-Al El-Zahri, Executive Director of the Education Development Department, Director of the Egyptian Center for the International Institute for Distance Education, and Head of the Project Team, received the award during the activities of the Global Partners Forum for the International Institute for Distance Education, which is organized by the International Center for Innovation in Higher Education of UNESCO in Shenzhen, China.

The UNESCO-ICHEI Digitalization Pioneer Case Award 2023 aims to support innovative projects that have an impact in the field of digital transformation in higher education. 140 projects affiliated with 83 educational institutions from 42 countries around the world applied for the award, and the work team of the Egyptian Center for the International Institute of Education was able to win the award.