Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chairman of the Egyptian National Commission for UNESCO, stressed the importance of the pioneering Egyptian experience with the Knowledge Bank, as it is one of the largest knowledge banks in the world, which reflects the deep belief of the political leadership in the importance of education and knowledge in building humanity, pointing out the importance of maximizing the benefit from the Bank. Egyptian Knowledge Bank in light of the unique and enormous potential it provides for learning and training, and making all types of sciences and knowledge available to students and researchers, in addition to its role in developing skills and preparing qualified graduates for the labor market, noting that the Egyptian Knowledge Bank has contributed to improving the classification of Egyptian universities, institutions, and research centers internationally. He explained that the Ministry is working to make the Knowledge Bank a leading platform for higher education and scientific research worldwide, and to increase research productivity in Egyptian universities, centers and research bodies.

In this context, Ain Shams University received, in the presence of Dr. Ghada Farouk, Vice President of the University for Community Affairs and Environmental Service, and the organization’s delegations; Accompanied by Dr. Ayman Farid, Assistant Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research for Strategic Planning, Training, and Qualification for the Labor Market, Mrs. Ola Lawrence, Advisor to the Egyptian Knowledge Bank, and Mr. Mark West, Responsible for the Future of Education and Innovation Team in the Education Sector at UNESCO, and his accompanying delegation, and a delegation from the UNESCO Regional Office in Cairo, and the UNICEF Office. In Cairo, the work team of the Knowledge Bank and the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, with the participation of delegations from 20 UNESCO member states.

In her speech, Dr. Ghada Farouk welcomed the attendees at Ain Shams University, adding that the successful and fruitful cooperation with the “Egyptian Knowledge Bank” comes within the fruitful efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Technical Education, and she thanked Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, for the great efforts he is making to preserve and develop the philosophy and role of the Egyptian Knowledge Bank.

Dr. Ghada Farouk indicated the university’s keenness to participate in the activities of the Egyptian Knowledge Bank, pointing to the distinguished results achieved as a result of this cooperation, including: Improving the quality of research and developing scientific research activities, as well as developing methods and tools for teaching, learning and evaluation, pointing out that the Knowledge Bank has played an essential role in strengthening universities’ orientation towards reference and international presence, as well as raising the quality of education, scientific research and communication with the labor market, which has been reflected in Clear progress in the results of international classifications and internationalization indicators.

She also reviewed the experience of cooperation between Ain Shams University and the Knowledge Bank, especially the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Training and Employment, by working together to provide students and faculty members with the necessary knowledge and enhance their potential towards developing the Egyptian economy, praising the university’s successful participation with the Knowledge Bank, especially in the medical and technological fields.

For his part, Mr. Mark West, responsible for the Education and Innovation Team in the Education Sector at UNESCO, praised what he saw during his tour of the university, which is one of the oldest and most prestigious educational institutions in Egypt, praising the extent of its remarkable development and the efforts made by the university in cooperation with the Egyptian Knowledge Bank at all levels under the umbrella of the Ministry of Higher Education, adding that it is an integrated city and not just a university.

During the visit, Dr. reviewed Mona Abdel-Al, Director of the Education Development Department, presented the university’s position in international rankings, noting the international accreditation of the university’s faculties of medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and engineering. She also presented an overview of the university’s faculties and programs in partnership with international universities that grant dual degrees, explaining that the number of international students at the university exceeds 11,000. Students, from more than 80 different nationalities, shed light on the Asu2learn e-learning portal system, and the system of question banks and electronic tests. The presentation touched on introducing the innovation sector, its components and activities, the data center and the university management system, the university’s electronic portal, and electronic testing laboratories, and referring to the university’s efforts to transform. Towards fourth generation universities, focusing on the impact of technological applications on environmental sustainability.

Dr. Mona Abdel-Al pointed out that cooperation between the university and UNESCO dates back to 2019 through the International Center for Innovation in Education affiliated with UNESCO, which resulted in a significant development in the capabilities of the university’s faculty staff, and support for the digital transformation in education, through the establishment of the International Institute for Learning.

The visit concluded with a tour by the delegation during which they inspected the Faculty of Medicine, the electronic testing laboratories, as well as the simulation center and the e-learning studio.

The UNESCO delegation during the visit was headed by Mr. Mark West, responsible for the Future of Education and Innovation Team in the Education Sector at UNESCO, and his accompanying delegation, a delegation from the UNESCO Regional Office in Cairo, UNICEF, and the Knowledge Bank team.

Professors attended from the university, Prof Nagwa Badr, Dean of the Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences, Dr. Shahera Samir, Executive Director of the International Relations Sector, Dr. Mona Abdel-Al Al-Zahri, Director of the Education Development Department, Dr. Neven Assem, Executive Director of the Training and Innovation Sector, Dr. Islam Hegazy, Director of the Networks Center, Dr. Dalia Youssef, Director of the Central Unit for E-Learning, Dr. Rasha Ismail, Director of the Electronic Portal, Dr. Weam Mahmoud, Executive Director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Dr. Ahmed Abdel Aziz, Director of the Career Center.