The Supreme Council of Universities held its periodic meeting, headed by Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, on Saturday 11/26/2022, in the presence of Dr. Mohamed Latif, Secretary of the Council, and the members of the Council, in the building of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the New Administrative Capital.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Council congratulated of Dr. Sherif Khater for his appointment as President of Mansoura University, and Dr. Khaled Ali Al-Dirandali for appointing him as President of Zagazig University, wishing them success. Atef Hussein, former Acting President of Zagazig University, for their distinguished efforts during the last period.

The Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research praised the efforts of universities and research centers that participated effectively throughout the COP27 conference, expressing his happiness at the decent level with which the pavilions of higher education and scientific research institutions that were established in the Green Zone appeared, to review the most prominent research projects that aim to confront climate changes that constitute a danger to the countries of the world, directing universities to continue holding scientific conferences, cultural seminars, workshops and events aimed at developing awareness among students and society about the file of climate change, which represents a challenge to various countries of the world, as well as encouraging researchers to prepare scientific research aimed at supporting the issue of climate change and finding solutions to this The global issue, praising the launch of the initiative of the Fund to Protect Heritage Sites and Museums from the damage of climate change, and the importance of activating all the items of the initiative to achieve its desired goals.

The Minister directed the organization of an activity every month in one of the geographical regions at the level of the Republic, in which all public, private, and private universities and institutes in this region participate. The Supreme Council of Universities, headed by His Excellency, undertakes to develop a strategic plan; To prepare and organize these events, define their strategic objectives, organizing mechanisms, participating universities, the outputs of these events, and their role in achieving sustainable development.

The minister praised the distinguished level of good organization of the World Universities Squash Championship, which was organized by the Egyptian Sports Federation for Universities in cooperation with the International Sports Federation of Universities in Cairo during the period from 7-13 November 2022, once again congratulating the Egyptian players who won the championship.

The minister indicated that the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology hosted the meeting of the commissioners of the United Institute for Nuclear Sciences during the period from November 22-24, 2022 in Hurghada, in the presence of the member states, where the delegation of the Arab Republic of Egypt was headed by Dr. Mahmoud Saqr, President of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, and the institute’s plan for the coming years was discussed, and the minister stressed the Egyptian government’s support for the work of the United Institute for Nuclear Sciences, and the importance of the role of science in assisting countries to achieve sustainable development goals, and supporting bonds of cooperation between countries and peoples.

The Minister praised the organization of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research for the second edition of the World Week of Scientific Francophonie, which included many important events and meetings, including the Sixth Francophone Ministerial Conference, as well as the signing of the first statement for Francophone scientific diplomacy with the participation of 32 ministers, praising the efforts of all those in charge of organizing This critical event, which contributed to its proper exit, confirming the interest of the Egyptian political leadership in the value of science, and the associated scientific research activities in various fields as a way to achieve the goals of sustainable development.

Dr. Ashour noted to hand out contracts to researchers to support 67 research projects with a value of 106 million pounds, as the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology funded 43 research projects of the winning projects with a value of 66 million pounds, and the Science, Technology, and Innovation Funding Authority funded 24 research projects of the winning projects with a value of 40 million pounds. Referring to honoring the winning teams from the Egyptian Universities Hackathon, which was held under the title "Climate Change: Creativity for Sustainability".

The minister directed the daily follow-up of the student union elections that take place from November 24 to December 8, and periodic submission of comprehensive reports on the progress of the electoral process until its end. He also called on university presidents to encourage students to positively participate in casting their votes in student elections.

The Council reviewed a report on field visits to Faculties and institutes in which studies have been initiated during the last ten years, and which are affiliated with the Literature Sectors Committees.

The Council commended the initiative of the Ministry of Transport to receive university students’ trips to learn about metro projects and the light electric train, and to carry out tours inside the stations, within the framework of fruitful cooperation between the Ministries of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Transport. To acquaint university students with the major projects that have been completed throughout the Republic.

The Council was informed of the assignment of the Coordination Office to carry out examination and review of all transfers made by public universities, in light of the decision issued by the Supreme Council of Universities in this regard.

The Council listened to a detailed presentation by Dr. Adel Abdel Ghaffar, media advisor and official spokesperson for the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, regarding the "executive plan of the ministry to confront destructive ideas", and referred to the fruitful cooperation between the system of higher education and scientific research, at the level of the ministry, the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, the Supreme Council of Universities, and the Institute for Preparing Leaders in Confronting Ideas Destructive, and the presentation reviewed what has been achieved during the last period, on several important axes, including: Preparing educational content to educate university and institute students by teaching the course of the social issues for university students, preparing new educational content on religious tolerance and the etiquette of dialogue, preparing a study on how to confront the dangers of social networking sites, the ministry’s plan to combat extremism and takfiri thought, and developing curricula to immunize students against the dangers technology and digital literacy to meet the requirements of the digital age, spreading the culture of science and innovation,and the implementation of several training programs for elite imams in cooperation with the Ministry of Awqaf and the concerned authorities, the use of the Internet and social networking sites to educate students and confront the danger of rumors, the implementation of a number of activities in universities to develop awareness and national belonging among students, and the holding of dialogue meetings and cultural seminars held by institutions of higher education about national issues that need community awareness. The presentation also referred to the executive steps that the Ministry and the Supreme Council of Universities will take in this regard, including support for awareness campaigns for university students through the digital means of communication of the Ministry and universities.

The council also listened to a presentation by Dr. Hisham Al-Minawy, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fund for the Welfare of Faculty Staff and their Assistants, about the latest positive developments in the performance of the Fund, and indicated that the Fund is about to start the second phase of the project to expand the scope of medical subscription to include families, referring to the approval of the Board of Directors of the Fund headed by Dr. Muhammad Awad Taj al-Din, Advisor to the President of the Republic for Health and Preventive Affairs, to start the social services provided by the fund after the council has finished studying the proposals, explaining the numbers of participating members at the university level, pointing to the importance of the participation of all universities in the project.

The Council approved the scientific content "The Tolerance of Religions and the Ethics of Dialogue with the Other", which highlights the tolerance of religions and the etiquette of dialogue between people, which a group of senior scholars prepared, to be included in the societal issues course taught to students.

The Council also approved the establishment of the Faculty of Science at Sadat City University, and the new formation of the Board of Directors of the Electronic and Knowledge Services Center at the Supreme Council of Universities.