Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research wittnsssed the holding of the closing session of the World Design Studio (WDS) at the Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University, for this year’s graduation project entitled: “Aswan City: Africa’s Capital of Culture, Youth, and Economy,” via video conference.

The session witnessed the presence of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zein El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, Dr. Mustafa Refaat, Secretary of the Supreme Council of Universities, and Prof. Ghada Farouk, Vice President of the University for Community Affairs and Environmental Service, Prof. Omar Al-Husseini, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, and Dr. Ayman Farid, Assistant Minister for Strategic Planning, Training and Qualification for the Labor Market, and Dr. Ahmed Al-Sabbagh, advisor to the Minister for Technological Education, and representatives of Clemson University in the United States, Huagong University in China, and a group of faculty staff at the Faculty of Engineering at Ain Shams University and students participating in the project.

In his speech, Dr. Ayman Ashour expressed his pride in the results achieved by the International Design Studio, which represents a unique and strong cooperation between the Faculty of Engineering at Ain Shams University, the Landscape Architecture Program at Clemson University in the United States, and the Departments of Architecture and Landscape Architecture at Huazhong Agricultural University in China. He stressed his happiness as a professor of engineering with this model, which embodies the spirit of cooperation between cultures and disciplines, contributes to addressing architectural, urban and environmental issues of global importance, and serves as a testimony to what can be achieved through good planning and international cooperation.

The Minister pointed out that the experience of the World Design Studio is an ideal embodiment of the vision of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in promoting the principles of innovation, sustainability, and international cooperation, extending his thanks to the foreign universities partnering in the studio, stressing the importance of this partnership not only in developing academic programs and promoting the idea of ​​interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary programs, but also in contributing to the sustainable development of cities such as Aswan.

The Minister appreciated this year's focus on the city of Aswan, which represents a mixture of ancient history and modern progress, and with its strategic location, it is considered a gateway to the continent of Africa and a center for trade and culture.

Dr. Ashour presented sincere thanks to the Governor of Aswan, for the governorate’s great support for the students, by facilitating visits to the sites required in the project and enabling them to immerse themselves in the environment, interact with local engineers and professionals, and all elements of society, and provide them with the opportunity to understand the unique nature of the city and get to know its people, which helped them reach Designs based on real-life experiences.

The Minister also congratulated the students, expressing his pride in what they have achieved and their ability to create designs that respect our cultural heritage while facing contemporary challenges. He praised their creativity and hard work that lays the foundation for future progress in architecture and urban planning. He also appreciated the support of the faculty members and their cooperation to build a brighter future for the students. And for cities.

For his part, Dr. Mohamed Diaa Zein El Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, praised the World Design Studio, explaining Ain Shams University’s pride in this cooperation. He also thanked Aswan Governorate for its support of the students during their work, expressing his wishes for the students to succeed in their professional future and to benefit from the experience they have acquired in their professional lives.

Dr. Mustafa Refaat, said that the World Design Studio is an application of the principles of the national strategy for higher education and scientific research, especially international reference, and cooperation in study programs and inter- and cross-disciplinary specializations, stressing that cooperation includes the undergraduate and graduate stages, pointing out that the project is the product of international cooperation for more than 17 years. In recent years, he has succeeded in many international projects.

Dr. Omar Al-Husseini, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, stressed the continuation of the Faculty in the International Design Studio, explaining the importance of choosing the city of Aswan as the focus of the project for this year, and its reflection on participation in the various challenges facing the city. He also expressed his aspiration for the students’ projects to see the light, through decision-makers adopting them and benefiting from them. In achieving sustainable development of the city.

Dr. Ayman Farid pointed out that the World Design Studio includes several specializations including architectural, urban and environmental design, urban planning, and site coordination, adding that the World Design Studio is considered the first of its kind in the field of interdisciplinary engineering study that combines the specialization of architecture and urban planning and links it with many other engineering specializations.

Dr. expressed. Hala Nassar, representative of Clemstone University, expressed the university’s welcome to participate in the program that serves the goals of sustainable development, and its commitment to supporting the studio’s projects, in partnership with China and Egypt.

Professor Shao Jizhong, representative of China's Huazhong University, stressed his country's pride in this cooperation, noting that the difference in cultures added a lot to the resulting designs and enhanced their excellence in achieving their goals, pointing out that the success of this model heralds the joining of more countries in the future and the expansion of the experiment.

The meeting included an explanation of the project that was implemented for the urban development of several areas in the city of Aswan, including: (Gharb Suhail, Al-Karur, International Garden, and Plant Island), where the students were divided into three work groups and emphasized the preservation of the civilizational and cultural character of the city and its folklore.

Dr. Shahira Samir, Director of International Relations at the University, said that choosing the city of Aswan was an ideal expression of cooperation between cultures, and an example of a city with a distinct cultural heritage.

The students also gave a speech about their project, and the steps they took to implement the project, expressing their happiness with what they learned and their pride in the results they achieved.

It is worth noting that the WDS World Design Studio is an interdisciplinary design studio that brings together various architectural disciplines with the participation of 3 universities, namely (Ain Shams University, Clemson University in America, and Huazhong University in China). It began in 2007, and students from the architecture and urbanism programs at the three universities participate in the studio annually. To work on developing visions and solutions to various urban problems within their countries, if they are national projects.