Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, received a delegation from the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, to enhance joint cooperation in the fields of education, scientific research and community development. The delegation included Mrs. Heba Iskandar, Head of Development Sector at Orascom Construction, and Engineer Noura Selim, Executive Director of the Sawiris Foundation, Mrs. Mays Abu Hijab, Director of Programs at the Foundation, Mrs. Areej Hegazy, Director of the Education and Scholarships Sector, in the presence of Dr. Reham Al-Otaifi, Director General of the General Administration of Education and Student Affairs at the University.

During the meeting, the current areas of joint cooperation between Ain Shams University and the Sawiris Foundation in the field of scholarships and student exchange were discussed, including scholarships offered by the University of Pennsylvania and the Sawiris Foundation to students of the Faculty of Engineering, in which 10 students have enrolled so far. And the “Sawiris” program to provide scholarships for students of the Faculty of Business to study at the University of Chicago for a full year in the field of finance and economics, which may extend to the postgraduate stage, from which 19 male and female students have benefited so far, two of whom have graduated, and the Sawiris Excellence Scholarship, which 49 male and female students have enrolled.

The university's cooperation with the Sawiris Foundation and the Ministry of Planning in the Decent Life Initiative was also discussed in the context of the protocol signed between the three parties.

Prof. Mohamed Diaa confirmed the need to expand the areas of cooperation between Ain Shams University and the Sawiris Foundation in the areas of scholarships to include many other university faculties. The University President also stressed the need to open horizons of cooperation between the two parties to include other areas.

For their part, the members of the delegation provided a brief overview of the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, and the areas in which the Foundation is interested in within the framework of its role in supporting the Egyptian economy and advancing development.

The members of the delegation expressed their welcome to the efforts made by Ain Shams University to enhance joint cooperation, stressing their openness to future cooperation with the university in all fields.