Under the auspices of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zein El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, Prof. Ghada Farouk, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs and Acting Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research, inaugurated the first session of the University's Graduate Studies and Research Sector Council for the academic year 2024/2025, in the presence of the Council members and Vice Deans of Graduate Studies at the university's faculties.

Prof. Ghada Farouk welcomed the Council members and congratulated the attendees on the birth of the Prophet and the new academic year. Her Excellency stressed the keenness of the Graduate Studies and Research Sector to provide the best scientific and research services to advance scientific research and provide services in all areas of scientific research.

She also expressed her appreciation for the efforts of Prof. Seham Gerges, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Nursing, in serving the college and the sector, and congratulated both: Prof. Miriam Ayad for assuming the management of the Quality Assurance Center, and Dr. Kamal Khaled Obaid, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Dentistry, for assuming the position of Director of the International Cooperation Department in the International Relations and Academic Cooperation Sector.

The Council reviewed a number of topics, including the activities of the OECD Expert Team. The Council also discussed the continuation of mechanisms to support international publishing at the university. A number of topics included: the unified guide for intellectual property policies in public universities, and the report of the committee formed to prepare a proposal to study referral paths for scientific production submitted by faculty members.

The Council also stressed the support for scientific research plans and their direction in each college, and presented the best practices and activities submitted by college students, in addition to clarifying the names and number of journals for publishing scientific research for students.

A report from the Quality Assurance and Accreditation Unit was also presented regarding amending and forming units and clarifying the developments that were made by separating technical support from performance evaluation and questionnaires, updating and developing specializations, researching the needs of colleges and providing the development and support they need in institutional accreditation, in addition to clarifying the strategic and analytical plan for students in colleges within the university accreditation regulations.

A report was presented on the performance of the central unit for developing postgraduate programs and clarifying aspects of development in colleges, in addition to submitting a report on managing expatriates at the postgraduate stage and clarifying the new rules for the academic year.

The Council also reviewed a report on the development of the university’s website, the smart platform for students and faculty members, and the “Study at Ain Shams” page, which displays the colleges’ programs and study systems, in addition to reviewing the university’s admission status for expatriates and the procedures followed in this area.