In his office, Prof. Dr. Ashraf Hnijal, the SU President, met this morning with Major General Engineer/Mohamed Abdul Rahim, the President of the Red Sea Ports Authority within the framework of signing a cooperation protocol between the University Centre for Career Development of Suez University and the Red Sea Authority. It was attended by Admiral\ Osama Salah, the Vice President of the Authority for Operation, Admiral\ Ahmed Safar, the Vice President of the Authority for Financial, Administrative, and Engineering Affairs, M. Dina El-Gohary, the Deputy Executive Director of the University Centre for Career Development Project, M. Marina Barsoum, the SU Project Manager, and Dr. Joseph Samir, the Recruitment and Partnerships Specialist with Business Owners.

Furthermore, the SU President stated that he had discussed with the University's guests the arrangements for the processing of the marine engineering program, as well as the possibility of technological programs in marine engineering and ship maintenance, to provide new academic pathways capable of qualifying University students adequately to compete vigorously in the labor market.

Moreover, Hnijal explained that the current protocol comes within the framework of the state policy for sustainable development and the realization of Egypt's Vision 2030. The Ministry of Higher Education seeks to bridge the gap between academic study and the needs of the labor market by developing the capabilities and skills of Egyptian university students. A partnership model has already been implemented between Suez University and American University in Cairo by establishing the Career Development Center, which provides training, professional development, and career guidance services for students and graduates of Suez University.

Therefore, Hnijal added that the signing of the cooperation protocol with the Authority is part of the vocational development centers' desire to cooperate and coordinate with companies and institutions based on its objectives of linking academic study to the needs of the labor market. This is to assist companies by providing qualified and trained graduates and students who are ready to work or train, thereby facilitating recruitment processes. The University will also contribute to the development of the technical capabilities of the staff working in the Authority and provide training courses, workshops, and seminars.

For his part, Major General\ Mohamed Abdul Raheem confirmed the readiness of the Authority to cooperate with Egyptian scientific bodies, institutions, and universities to qualify university students for the labor market and develop their skills to keep pace with the developments of the times as well as the development of a new and integrated vocational education and training path parallel to the academic education path for the development of Egyptian society and the introduction of everything new about the training and qualification of university students and graduates in various relevant fields in line with the significant development in the needs of the labor market.

The signing of today's protocol with Suez University provides training for students and graduates of Suez University, allowing students to conduct field visits to the affiliated authority and ports to learn about the nature and requirements of work and professional life, and organizing induction seminars within the university or through an electronic platform lectured by the authority's leaders to transfer professional expertise and experiences.