Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, received a delegation from TH Koeln University in Germany, within the framework of enhancing academic and research cooperation between the two universities. The delegation included Prof. Dr. Lars Riebe from the Faculty of Spatial Development and Infrastructure Systems at the University and Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of the UNESCO International Hydrology Program and the World Meteorological Organization Water Resources Program, and Dr. Eng. Hassan Tolba Abu El-Naja, Coordinator of the iWater Program at the University and an international expert in the field of water security.

The meeting was attended by Prof. Ghada Farouk, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development, Prof. Shahira Samir, Executive Director of the International Relations and Academic Collaboration Sector, Prof. Ali Al-Bahrawy, Professor at the Faculty of Engineering and Director of the iWater Project and the Master’s Program in Integrated Water Management, and Prof. Tamer Al-Nady, Professor at the Faculty of Engineering and Director of the Grants and Projects Office.

At the beginning of the meeting, Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen welcomed the guests, stressing the depth of relations between Egypt and Germany in the field of higher education and scientific research, and expressed his aspiration to strengthen these relations through the exchange of experiences and cooperation with TH Koeln University in various fields.

For his part, Prof. Lars Ribe expressed his happiness to visit Ain Shams University, noting that TH Koeln University occupies a leading position in many fields of scientific research and has relations with a number of prestigious international universities, stressing his aspiration to establish cooperative relations with Ain Shams University, praising its pioneering role at the local and international levels.

The meeting discussed ways of joint cooperation in terms of student and faculty exchange, in addition to cooperation in the research aspect.

The launch of a joint program in the field of water was also discussed, bringing together TH Koeln University and Ain Shams and Mansoura Universities, after obtaining the necessary approvals, which will contribute to facing the complex challenges in water management, and achieving Egypt's 2030 vision in the field of sustainable development.

At the end of the meeting, it was agreed to form a joint committee concerned with all aspects related to the program.