Prof. Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, inaugurated the opening events of the new academic year, accompanied by Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Metini, President of Ain Shams University, and Prof. Dr. Abdel Fattah Saoud, Vice President for Education and Student Affairs, and Prof. Dr. Ayman Saleh, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research Affairs, and Prof. Hisham Tamraz, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development, Deans and Vice Deans of Faculties and Assistant Secretaries.

At the beginning of the visit, the attendees witnessed a flag raising and saluting ceremony among the students, and the minister exchanged parental talk with the students and reassured their readiness to start the new school year, noting the importance of their receiving the anti-Coronavirus vaccine, in implementation of the directives of the President of the Republic to vaccinate all members of universities and institutes in order to preserve the safety and health of everyone, periodic and detailed follow-up by the Prime Minister on this file, and full and daily cooperation and coordination with the Ministry of Health and Population.

Dr. Abdul Ghaffar reassured of implementing all precautionary and preventive measures inside the university’s buildings and classrooms, and for following up on students’ entry to the university in an orderly manner.

Also Dr. Abdul Ghaffar stated that all universities have completed the preparation of their university facilities to receive students, emphasizing the speed of announcing study schedules, and completing the housing of students in university cities, while taking all necessary safety and security standards in all university facilities, to ensure a safe learning environment for students.

The minister pointed out the need to achieve discipline in the educational process, and the presence of university leaders, faculty members and the supporting body since the first day of the study; To ensure the smooth running of the educational process.

The minister affirmed the universities’ readiness with executive plans for cultural, artistic and sports activities, for their important role in discovering and refining the talents and abilities possessed by students, and supplying the various sports, scientific and artistic fields in Egypt with heroes, creators and talented among them, pointing to the importance of holding educational seminars; Developing national awareness among students, and organizing field visits to major national projects implemented by the state in various sectors.

As directed by Dr. Abdel Ghaffar to complete the implementation of the ministry’s plan for digital transformation within universities in implementation of Egypt’s 2030 vision to build a digital Egypt, by raising the efficiency of the information infrastructure in universities, automating electronic exams, university hospitals, and expanding the establishment of electronic educational platforms, which depend on distance education, which has proven Its worth during the Corona pandemic.

During the tour, Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Metini, President of Ain Shams University, stressed the need to follow all precautionary measures, including commitment to wearing masks, social distancing, and continuous sterilization of classrooms.

He pointed out that a decision was issued regarding the necessity of receiving vaccination doses since the months of the summer vacation, as the vaccination of 70,000 students, 14,000 faculty members, and 40,000 members of the administrative staff were completed. The biggest challenge was to vaccinate students, as Ain Shams University is one of the most Student density, with 200 thousand students in the undergraduate levels and 25 thousand students in the postgraduate stage. The Ministry of Health has provided the university with a sufficient number of vaccination doses, where vaccination was carried out through 14 vaccination points in various colleges, university hospitals and the field hospital, and it is scheduled to be completed All students are vaccinated during the next two weeks.

Prof. Dr. Abdel Fattah Saoud, Vice President for Education and Student Affairs, said that the university prepared to start the study during the new academic year with the full attendance of students inside the colleges with the presence of electronic courses in preparation for all scenarios. Directing them to receive the vaccine directly through the vaccination points spread on the university campus, pointing out that the university can vaccinate about 12,000 daily.

He stressed the continuation of student activities with effectiveness and diversity, with the presence of points for the Students' Union spread on the main campus of the university to introduce the various activities and services provided by the university to students.

The flag raising ceremony was followed by the participation of the Minister and the university leaders of the students in their various activities that they presented to celebrate the victories of the glorious October War and other various cultural, artistic and sports activities, to develop the students’ national awareness, and to introduce them to the importance of the October victory, the sacrifices made by the men of the armed forces, and the support of the Egyptian people to his army in achieving this great victory.

This came in the presence of Family for Central Egypt students, union students and directors of youth welfare departments, who presented their activities under the supervision of Mr. Muhammad Al-Khatib, Assistant Secretary for Education and Student Affairs.

The director of the Military Education Department, the university's military education students, Family for Central Egypt students and Union students saluted the flag raising and saluting ceremony.