Under the patronage of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, and Prof. Ghada Farouk, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development, the Faculty of Archaeology hosted Dr. Nuria Sanz, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Cairo, where she was received by Prof. Hossam Tantawy, Dean of the Faculty, in the presence of Prof. Shahira Samir, Executive Director of the International Relations and Academic Collaboration Sector at the University, and Dr. Basem Mohamed, Acting Vice Dean of the Faculty for Community Service and Environmental Development.

The meeting witnessed the exchange of visions and ideas on UNESCO’s support activities for research projects and training workshops for students and specialists in the field of heritage protection, ways to sponsor environmentally friendly research projects in various fields of antiquities, and ways for students and scholars to participate in UNESCO projects inside and outside Egypt to help them face the practical life of preserving heritage using modern technology and keeping pace with scientific developments.

Dr. Sanz listened to a presentation by Prof. Islam Ezzat, Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Museums and Archaeological Sites, about the college, its various programs and activities, and the scientific projects in which it participates. In turn, Dr. Iman Nabil, in charge of the work of the Director of the Papyrological and Epigraphic Studies Center, presented a summary of the activities of the Papyrological and Epigraphic Studies Center and its role in preparing and organizing training courses, educational seminars, and scientific conferences on papyrus, manuscripts, and related sciences, in addition to contributing to spreading awareness of the importance of heritage, methods of preservation and maintenance, and related activities and projects.

The faculty guest inspected the manuscript and document restoration lab, where the work team presented her with a practical vision of the work steps, and some models of maps, manuscripts, and heritage books (such as the Description of Egypt book) that were completed; leading to their preservation, through digitization.

Dr. Sanz, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Cairo, took the initiative to propose some means of cooperation between the office and the faculty to support some cultural projects aimed at preserving the Egyptian heritage, as well as cooperation in organizing a number of joint events during the coming period related to the activities of the UNESCO Office in Cairo, which are a priority in the near term.

Her Excellency also expressed her admiration for the efforts of the faculty’s restoration team, and praised the steps taken by the faculty to prepare distinguished graduates. 

At the end of the meeting, the two parties agreed to study the proposals that were put forward in the field of studying, preserving and maintaining heritage, and to hold a meeting in the coming period to develop a roadmap for joint cooperation between the Faculty of Archaeology, at Ain Shams University and UNESCO.