The Supreme Council of Universities held its periodic meeting, headed by Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in the presence of Dr. Reda Hegazy, Minister of Education and Technical Education, Dr. Mustafa Refaat, Secretary of the Council and members of the Council, at the headquarters of Ain Shams University.

The Council offered its condolences to Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, on the death of his brother, praying to God to shower him with mercy and forgiveness.

The Council also thanked the Ain Shams University family, headed by Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El- Abedeen, President of the University, for hosting the meeting of the Supreme Council of Universities.

The Minister of Higher Education directed the importance of activating the role of regional alliances that were signed between academic, production, and industrial institutions, implementing the plan for regional alliances to support scientific research for industry and the national economy, confronting the challenges facing the different geographical regions at the republic level, and supporting the transformation of educational institutions into innovative institutions. It contributes to attracting distinguished scientific cadres, in implementation of the presidential initiative “Alliance and Development”, which enjoys the support and sponsorship of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic, and in line with achieving the goals of the National Strategy for Higher Education and Scientific Research.

The Minister also directed the need for universities to focus on scientific research and ideas that can be transformed into innovations and applicable products that have an economic impact on society, as well as linking the research product to industry, directing scientific research to serve society, confronting the challenges facing economic growth, and supporting the industrial community and the national economy. In addition to enhancing scientific and research cooperation between universities, the industrial and business community, and productive institutions, and employing the capabilities of academic and scientific institutions, to serve all development needs facing geographical regions throughout the Republic.

The Minister directed the continued organization of field visits and student trips to national projects being implemented in various sectors. So that students can learn about the national projects that are being accomplished, and to raise their awareness of the extent of the work being implemented in various parts of the Republic.

The Minister praised the role of universities in launching medical, veterinary and agricultural convoys, organizing educational seminars and various events and activities, and positively contributing to capacity building in the health, environmental, veterinary and social fields, in cooperation with the presidential initiative “Hayah Karima”, to activate the role of universities in serving society and developing the environment at the level of all governorates.

The Minister directed the necessity of continuing the efforts of universities in the issue of eradicating illiteracy and intensifying cooperation with the General Authority for Adult Education in this important file, to reach a “society without illiteracy” and to activate the role of universities in serving society and developing the environment.

Dr. Ayman Ashour appreciated the fruitful cooperation between Egypt and UNESCO, the organization’s praise of the experience of the Egyptian Knowledge Bank, and the issuance of a decision during the 217th session of the organization’s Executive Council regarding the “Egyptian Knowledge Bank,” stressing that Egypt will receive a delegation of UNESCO officials and member states during the coming period; To learn about the mechanisms for implementing the Egyptian Knowledge Bank initiative, and to discuss ways to transfer its expertise to member states to benefit from it, given its great importance in supporting efforts to develop the scientific research system.

The Minister praised the inclusion of 69 Egyptian universities and research centers in the Semago World Classification of Research and Academic Institutions for the year 2024, where 53 university institutions, 14 research institutions, and 2 university health institutions were included. The Minister directed the necessity of universities continuing to provide support to researchers to increase scientific publishing in Prestigious scientific journals; To improve the ranking of Egyptian universities in major international classifications.

The Council heard a report on the most prominent activities of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research during the month of March, the most prominent of which was attendance at the activities of the fifth edition of “Capable with Difference,” which was attended and honored by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic. In this context, the Minister directed universities to pay attention to students with special needs, and to provide all educational services and aspects of care necessary for these students.

Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly also held a meeting with Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Dr. Reda Hegazy, Minister of Education and Technical Education. To review the proposal to develop the educational system for high school, within the framework of interest in the pre-university education stage, in line with the requirements of the labor market in light of global developments.

The Minister of Higher Education delivered a speech during the opening of the International Conference on Health Tourism in the presence of Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly. The Minister emphasized the Ministry’s role in the medical tourism system through developing study programs, launching educational tourism, and launching educational and research strategies to serve this important sector.

Dr. Ayman Ashour also announced the formation of the Executive Council for Regional Alliances of Universities, Industrial and Productive Institutions in the Geographic Regions of Egypt, which consists of the regions (Greater Cairo, Alexandria, the Delta, the Suez Canal, North Upper Egypt, Assiut, and South Upper Egypt) and a number of public figures with experience in the fields of industry and the national economy.The Minister also witnessed the signing of several protocols within the Greater Cairo Region Alliance between universities and industrial and production institutions at Cairo University.

Dr. Ayman Ashour reviewed the results of his visit to the French capital, Paris, where the Minister delivered a speech from the Arab Republic of Egypt at the 219th session of the Executive Council of UNESCO, and met with the founder of the Artificial Intelligence College AIvancity. To discuss ways of cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence, as well as meeting with a number of presidents of various French universities, to discuss mechanisms for enhancing joint cooperation between Egyptian universities and their French counterparts.

Dr. Ayman Ashour also held a meeting with Egyptian scientists in France, to discuss aspects of cooperation with them during the coming period in various fields, and to benefit from the expertise of Egyptian doctors in France to improve health services, management, and training medical staff in university hospitals. In this context, the Minister indicated that the Ministry has prepared a list of Egyptian scientists abroad in all scientific specializations, in order to benefit from them during the coming period in all fields, as the Ministry will develop a comprehensive vision to ensure the sustainability of benefiting from these scientists in scientific research and studies conducted by Egyptian universities and research centers, especially those serving sustainable development issues in Egypt.

The Minister of Higher Education and the Hungarian Minister of Culture and Innovation also opened the opening session of the Academic and Scientific Forum between Egypt and Hungary. The two ministers also held a bilateral meeting to discuss mechanisms for enhancing cooperation between the two ministries in a number of areas of common interest. The two ministers also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Mansoura University and the Hungarian University of Debrecen, to cooperate in many scientific and research fields.

Dr. Ayman Ashour witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding; To establish an international branch of the University of Alexandria in Tonj and in Juba, South Sudan. The Ministers of Higher Education, Planning and Economic Development also witnessed the signing of a cooperation protocol between the Innovators and Geniuses Fund and the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development. To cooperate in building and developing human capabilities, governance and sustainable development. The two ministers also discussed the new investment plan for the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research for the new fiscal year 2024/2025.

The Minister participated in the “Empowering the Egyptian Citizen” session within the economic dialogue sessions to come up with serious recommendations that contribute to improving the growth of the Egyptian economy.

The Minister inspected the French University's website; To view the start of construction and establishment work for the university’s new campus headquarters, the minister pointed out the future interest in academic programs offered in the French language in Egyptian universities, in order to attract foreign students, wishing to study in the French language.

The Minister of Higher Education witnessed the launch of the activities of the Summit Forum for Student Initiatives at Universities and Institutes under the slogan “Innovators with a Difference” for the third year in a row.

The report indicated that many meetings were held with ministers, ambassadors, foreign officials, and foreign university delegations. To discuss mechanisms for enhancing joint scientific and research cooperation.

The Council listened to a presentation by Dr. Sherif Kishk, Assistant Minister for Smart Governance, on the integration and unification of the data source between public universities, by linking various statistical data programs for monitoring government university data through the electronic platforms of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Universities.

Dr. Adel Abdel Ghaffar, the media advisor and official spokesman for the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, stated that the Council followed the steps to start work on the Egyptian university land project in the New Valley Governorate. With the aim of actually starting the reclamation of these lands to establish model specialized scientific farms, which will have a return on the development of scientific research in Egyptian universities, and contribute to the implementation of the state’s plan for the development of the South Upper Egypt region.