The Supreme Council of Universities held its periodic meeting, chaired by Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, today, Saturday, in the presence of Dr. Reda Hegazy, Minister of Education and Technical Education, and Dr. Mustafa Refaat, Secretary of the Council and members of the Council, at the headquarters of Ain Shams University.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Council thanked the family of Ain Shams University, headed by Dr. Mahmoud El-Meteini, President of the University, for hosting the meeting of the Supreme Council of Universities.

The Council congratulated Dr. Essam El-Din Sadik Farhat, on his appointment as President of Minia University, wishing him continued success.

The minister directed universities to organize field visits and student trips to national projects that are being implemented in various sectors. In order for the students to get acquainted with what is being accomplished of national projects, and to increase awareness of the volume of work that is being implemented in various parts of the Republic, in implementation of the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic, to organize field visits to national projects that are being implemented in all parts of the country, to acquaint young people with what is being achieved on the ground in all parts of the country.

The minister stressed the importance of universities establishing regional alliances between public, private, civil and technological universities, civil society, local development agencies, and the industrial community. To contribute to achieving comprehensive development in all geographical regions at the level of the Republic, and to enhance scientific and research cooperation between universities and the industry and business community in its comprehensive concept, in order to achieve more integration as a national goal, pointing to the importance of the industry being knowledge-based, encouraging the investment culture of academic research, and expanding in Establishing business incubators within universities, supporting research plans to confront climate changes in geographical regions, developing programs and curricula in cooperation with industry partners, and field skills training for students to prepare them to meet the requirements of the labor market.

The minister also stressed the importance of continuing the efforts of universities in the file of illiteracy eradication and intensifying cooperation with the General Authority for Adult Education in this important file, to reach a society without illiteracy.

The minister directed to follow up on the implementation of all research plans presented by university vice-presidents for postgraduate studies and research, to meet the various challenges facing Egyptian society in all economic, social, health and environmental fields in all governorates, and to activate the role of scientific research in facing important issues facing society.

The Council listened to a report on the most prominent executive activities of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research during the month of March, foremost of which came the presence of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic, with the Prime Minister and all ministers. The meeting dealt with reviewing the government’s plan to transfer ministries and various state agencies and institutions to the Administrative Capital. He presented developments in the implementation of the first phase of the “Decent Life” initiative to develop the Egyptian countryside, and preparations for the start of the second phase. In this regard, the minister directed the universities to continue launching medical, veterinary and agricultural convoys, educational seminars, events and various activities, and to contribute positively to capacity building in the health, environmental, veterinary and social fields, in cooperation with the "Decent Life" initiative and to prepare for the start of the second phase of the initiative, which includes the development of 52 centers that include more than 16 thousand villages; To activate the role of universities in community service and environmental development at the level of all governorates.

The report referred to the launch of the national strategy for higher education and scientific research, which included 7 main principles, namely (integration, interdisciplinary, communication, effective participation, sustainability, international reference, entrepreneurship and innovation), under the auspices of the Prime Minister, and in the presence of the Ministers of Planning and Economic Development, Health and population, communications and information technology, finance, education and technical education, youth and sports, agriculture and land reclamation, manpower, and a group of presidents of public, private, private and technological universities, heads of research centers, institutes and bodies, a number of higher education experts, officials of international organizations and bodies, The House of Representatives and the Senate, investors, and elite media and public figures. The strategy was discussed with the academic and civil society, and was presented to the political leadership, the House of Representatives, and the Council of Elders.

The activities of launching the national strategy for higher education and scientific research witnessed the signing of two cooperation protocols between the Science, Technology and Innovation Finance Authority, Al-Araby Engineering Industries Company and Fresh Electric for Home Appliances, the signing of two cooperation agreements between Cairo Alexandria National University and the University of East London, as well as the signing of two cooperation protocols between Misr Insurance Company and two Tahseen Funds. The conditions of workers in public universities and the care of faculty members and their assistants in universities and research institutes, in addition to the signing of a cooperation protocol between partners from institutions of higher education, scientific research and industry as the nucleus of the Northern Region Alliance, consisting of: (Alexandria University - Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport - Matrouh University - El Alamein University - The City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications - Alexandria Mineral Oils Company "AMOC" - Abu Qir Fertilizers Company - Board of Trustees of the new Borg El Arab City - Alexandria Businessmen Association), which contributes to achieving comprehensive development in all geographical regions.

The report added that the Minister inaugurated the Southern Hospital at the National Cancer Institute at Cairo University to increase its capacity by 50%, to be a strong addition to the health care system for the treatment of oncology patients. Outstanding treatment for patients.

The report pointed to participation in the General Conference of the Association of Arab Universities in its fifty-fifth session, which was held in the sister Republic of Tunisia, the opening of the activities of the International Conference on Smart Cities 2023, and participation in the first regional conference on modern judicial trends in the field of intellectual property rights protection, in addition to the opening of the scientific forum and exhibition. The International Institute for Higher Education and Training "Educate 2023" in its twelfth session.

The report indicated that the Minister of Higher Education met with a number of ambassadors and foreign officials. To discuss and support ways of joint cooperation in the fields of higher education and scientific research.

The minister noted the change of the name of the National Authority for Private and Technological Universities to the Authority for the Support and Development of Universities, to suit its new goals, which aim to implement the state's policies in the field of higher education, by supporting and providing opportunities for higher education and upgrading it, through participation with public universities in Establish private or technological universities or expand existing ones, or contribute to financing their establishment or expansion, according to what is agreed upon with the public university, and establish private higher institutes, in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 52 of 1970 regarding the organization of private higher institutes, and establish foreign university branch buildings or equipping or incurring the costs of operating them; In accordance with the provisions of Law 162 of 2018 establishing and organizing branches of foreign universities within the Arab Republic of Egypt and university institutions, and providing the necessary expertise, consultations, studies and research in the field of higher education and scientific research.

Dr. Adel Abdel Ghaffar, media advisor and spokesperson for the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, said that the Council listened to a presentation by Dr. Hisham Al-Askari, Executive Vice President of the Egyptian Space Agency, regarding assessing the impact of climate change on the Egyptian shores, and presenting the future plan to confront these risks. The heat of the Mediterranean increases the strength of hurricanes that can occur on the Egyptian coast.

The Spokesman added that the Council agreed to cancel the aptitude tests for students who obtained general secondary certificates and their equivalent (foreign - Arabic) and technical secondary certificates, for the faculties of (Media - Nursing - Technical Institute of Nursing - Health Technical Institutes - Technological Universities - Colleges of Technology and Industrial Education).

The Council confirmed the continuation of the ability tests in the faculties of (Physical Education - Music Education - Art Education - Specific Education "Artistic - Musical - Educational Theater" - Applied Arts - Fine Arts "Arts - Architecture" - Education "Artistic - Musical").

The council agreed to cancel the regional distribution rules for general secondary certificates and their equivalent (foreign - Arab) and technical certificates for admission to colleges (nursing - education - specific education - health technical institutes - technical nursing institutes) as of admission to the academic year 2023/2024.

The Council approved the admission of students from the Industry Service Complex at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport in Alexandria, who obtained an above-average diploma in government technological universities, in accordance with the regulations governing this matter.

The council agreed to form a joint committee among university professors (Alexandria - Ain Shams - Beni Suef - Arish - Cairo - New Valley - Tanta); With the aim of actually starting the reclamation of 200 feddans for each university in the New Valley Governorate, using common infrastructure, machinery and equipment, to reduce costs and ensure implementation at the highest level in the fastest time, within the framework of implementing a partnership project between Egyptian universities and the New Valley Governorate, regarding the allocation of 1000 feddans of land. Preserving to be exploited in the fields of scientific research.