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On the sidelines of the Egyptian-French Universities Forum, organized by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research over April 7 and 8, coinciding with the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Cairo, and under the patronage of Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Mr. Philippe Batiste, French Minister of Higher Education, a high-level panel discussion was held entitled "Egyptian-French Academic Cooperation: Current Status and Future Prospects." The panel was attended by a select group of university presidents and higher education leaders from both Egypt and France.

At the beginning of the session, Dr. Ali Shams El-Din, former president of Benha University, pointed to the remarkable development in relations between the two countries, particularly in light of the shared political will of both sides. He emphasized that Egyptian and French universities possess the capabilities and a long history that qualify them to be among the world's leading educational institutions. He explained that the session aims to explore opportunities for academic cooperation between universities and expand bilateral relations.

During the session, the university presidents exchanged reviews of the educational and research plans implemented by their institutions to improve the quality of higher education. This is achieved by keeping pace with modern academic programs, increasing international partnerships, enhancing academic and research cooperation, and efforts to internationalize higher education and strengthen international partnerships.

Dr. Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, emphasized that the university is one of the oldest Egyptian universities, pointing to its rich history and the number of graduates it has produced over the past decades. He explained that Ain Shams University has concluded several cooperation agreements with the French side covering various educational and research sectors, within the framework of a strategic vision to consolidate the academic partnership between the two countries.

The President of Ain Shams University pointed to the availability of faculty staff who support this partnership, in addition to a number of professors receiving research grants in France. He emphasized the shared vision in the fields of modern technology, industry, and the study of medicine in French.

For his part, Dr. Mohamed Roshdy, President of the French University in Egypt, explained that his participation in the session reflects the umbrella of Egyptian-French cooperation in higher education since he assumed the presidency of the university. He thanked French President Emmanuel Macron and Dr. Ayman Ashour for their continued support of the university, noting that the university serves as an effective link between higher education in Egypt and France.

He added that the university seeks to develop its training programs, while simultaneously enhancing research cooperation in master's and doctoral theses within Egypt. He also noted that the university has recently entered into several partnerships with Egyptian universities, pointing to the project to establish a new campus as a smart educational edifice that reflects an ambitious future vision.

He expressed his appreciation for the participation of a number of French universities in signing new cooperation agreements during the forum, emphasizing that the university grants academic degrees that meet the needs of the labor market and is a center of attraction for international students from the Middle East and Africa, strengthening Egypt's regional and international role in the field of higher education.

Dr. Abdel Aziz Qansouh, President of Alexandria University, reviewed the university's plans for expansion and the establishment of a private university and international branches. He noted Alexandria University's historical status as one of Egypt's oldest universities and its commitment to developing academic programs to keep pace with global technological developments and link industry and scientific research. He expressed the university's willingness to expand cooperation with French academic and research institutions through new projects.

Dr. Loïc Gréron, President of the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin, highlighted his university's interest in environmental issues and explored ways to cooperate with Egyptian universities in this field, supporting Egypt's plan to become a hub for higher education for African and French-speaking countries.

For her part, Dr. Fatima Ashour, head of the bilateral project "Central Mediterranean," emphasized the importance of the project in connecting Mediterranean countries at the academic and research levels, as well as in cooperation with Cairo University. She noted that the forum seeks to consolidate trust, knowledge, and joint work, and to launch projects that contribute to preparing students for the new job market.

Dr. Amal El Gammal, Head of the Information Systems Department at Misr Informatics University, also pointed out that the university was established to offer distinguished programs in the fields of communications and information technology, as part of a strategic plan aimed at achieving quality education, with a focus on international partnerships. She noted that the university has concluded several agreements with international universities in the fields of engineering, fine arts, design, and computers and information, expressing her aspiration for further bilateral cooperation between the Egyptian and French governments.