Dr. Ashraf Hnijal, the SU President, attends the meeting of the Higher Council of Universities.

(((Quoted from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research page)).

The Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research directs:

- Rapid announcement of the results of the first semester's examinations.

- Completion of maintenance work in universities and dormitories during the mid-year academic vacation.

- Facilitation of university students' visits to the International Book Fair during the mid-year academic vacation.

- Scientific research serves the economy and national industry with new products.

The Supreme Council of Universities held its periodic meeting. It was under the chairmanship of Dr. Ayman Ashour, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in the presence of Dr. Mustafa Rafat, the Secretary of the Council and members of the Council.

The Council thanked the Aswan University Community under the chairmanship of Dr. Ayman Mahmoud Osman, the President of the University, for hosting the meeting of the Higher Council of Universities.

The Minster talked about his visit to the branch of Suez University in Abo Redis.

As well, he appreciated the state's role for its substantial support in the emergence of this ambitious project and commended the University's outstanding role in finishing the work and following up on it.

Furthermore, Ashraf Hnijal, the SU President, stated that the university branch will include 17 faculties and an Integrated Medical Complex. The construction of the first phase faculties. It included faculties (Science - Commerce - Arts - Education), noting that each faculty's building consists of a ground floor and four upper floors on an area of 5,000 flat meters for the Faculty of Science, and 3500 flat meters for each of the faculties (Commerce, Arts, and Education), at a total cost of over 1 billion pounds and 110 million pounds for the first phase.

Moreover, the SU President stated that the second phase of the university branch in South Sinai will include (the Faculty of Engineering, terrace buildings, university dormitory, university administration, conference hall, and library), and the third phase includes (scientific faculties, medical sector faculties, medical complex), and the fourth phase include (sports city buildings, Olympic sports complex including stadiums, covered hall, and half Olympic swimming pool) to serve the residents of South Sinai governorate. The SU President pointed out that they are doing everything they can to start studying in the next academic year.

Therefore, the Ministry of Higher Education thanked staff, associated staff, and the administrative body of universities for their full discipline in organizing the first semester-end examinations for the academic year 2023-2024.

Hence, the Minister promptly directed the completion of the work of the controls and the announcement of the results to students as soon as required, to enable them to register for the courses of study at the beginning of the second semester in all faculties, especially those operating on the accredited hours system.

Dr. Ayman Ashour also pointed out the need to complete all maintenance work in universities and university dormitories during the mid-academic year, and to ensure the availability of occupational safety and security standards in all university buildings and facilities, to ensure the safety of all members of the academic community, as part of the universities' readiness to start studying in the second semester.

In addition, the Minister directed to maximize the use of the Egyptian Knowledge Bank to maximize its unique and enormous possibilities for learning and training and to make available various kinds of science and knowledge, Using it to develop skills and prepare graduates capable of meeting the requirements of the local, regional, and international labor market as well as benefiting from it in upgrading the classification of Egyptian universities, institutions, and research centers internationally, to enhance the knowledge economy and take advantage of the enormous potential of human capital in Egypt.

The Minister also directed the need to take advantage of the Cairo International Book Fair in its 55^th edition during the mid-year vacation period and to provide all facilitations for students and accessible transfers; To participate in the exhibition and attend various and varied events organized by the exhibition; to maximize the benefit of the Cairo International Book Fair, a wedding that contributes to the development youth's awareness and culture.

The council reviewed a report on the highlights of the activities of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in January, presented by a meeting of the Minister of Higher Education with Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, the President of the Republic. It was attended by Dr. Mustafa Madbouly, the Prime Minister of the Council of Ministers. The meeting presented the State's efforts to develop higher education facilities in Egypt. Hence, Abdel Fatah El-Sisi briefed on the work progress in the new university establishment projects in the Republic. The Minister also presented the views put forward by the committee concerned with Cairo's historic development plans, restoring the city's splendor, and alleviating the challenges it faced.

Then, the report also noted the meeting of the Minister of Higher Education with President Abdelfattah El-Sisi, the President of the Republic, and Dr. Mostafa Madboui to follow up on the implementation of the State's plans to improve the quality of university education and link it to the labor market and development needs. The Minister presented the executive position of the State Strategy for Technological Education, the expansion of the establishment of technological universities to cover all governorates of the Republic, and the development of their study systems, as well as the Government's program to absorb the steady increase in the number of students in universities, and the ongoing efforts to establish a city for international students. This was conducted to accommodate the surge achieved in this framework, focus on the relevance of the study programs to the requirements of the labor market, as well as show the developments of activating the initiative "Alliance and Development". The Ministry of Higher Education allocated 1 billion pounds from donors to activate this initiative, as well as the developments of the initiative "Egyptian Knowledge Bank" and to maximize the use of its unique and enormous possibilities for learning and training and the availability of various kinds of science and knowledge, and to showcase the development efforts of university hospitals Increase its numbers, provide educational and training programs at outstanding levels, and provide modern treatment services.

The report referred to the meeting of the Minister of Higher Education with Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, the Prime Minister to follow up on actions taken to address the relative deficit in teachers' numbers in the Republic; Dr. Ayman Ashour presented a plan to prepare the teacher at Egyptian universities. The Minister also participated in the Board of Directors of the Education Development Fund. It was chaired by Dr. Mustafa Madbouly. The meeting stressed the importance of full cooperation between the Ministries of Higher Education and Education and the Fund to contribute to the implementation of the State's strategy for the development of education.

The report highlighted the Minister's participation in the second session of the consultative meeting of the National Educational, Scientific and Cultural Committees, organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), and in the 44^th session of the Executive Council of ISESCO. It was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as well as several meetings with participants; To strengthen cooperation between Egypt and the countries participating in the Council, in the fields of education, science, and culture, to serve the goals of sustainable development.

The report added that the Minister witnessed the launch of the project to establish the National Laboratory for Research on Infectious Diseases with the Third Biosafety Level project, funded by the Science, Technology, and Innovation Finance Authority. The laboratory will focus on animal-to-human diseases that do not currently have effective treatments or vaccines and contribute to the development of new diagnoses and treatments for these diseases not only in Egypt but in the Middle East and Africa. It will also provide a strong infrastructure for scientific research in the field of virology and other infectious diseases.

The Minister also opened the Helwan University Club and inspected some of its sports facilities, in addition to signing several cooperation protocols, which will contribute to the formation of sports teams to participate on behalf of the University Club in various local activities and competitions and qualify for competition in international competitions. The Minister also announced the opening of progress for the fifth season of the "2024 Electric Vehicle Rally"; To prepare Egyptian cadres capable of manufacturing a homemade Egyptian car by creating an encouraging environment to support the design and manufacture of cars as well as provide technical support to teams participating in the competition, especially since the previous four seasons saw the participation of 65 teams from all Egyptian universities and institutes, as well as training and qualification of about 2000 students for the automotive labor market.

The Minister also held a meeting with the electric vehicle team; To follow up on the implementation of the car manufacturing processes, which are fully finished, obtain the results of the tests conducted, and begin the actual manufacturing processes, after visiting several international companies in the field of automobile manufacturing; To obtain the best specifications and develop the product in line with the nature of Egyptian society. The project will contribute to a qualitative shift in the electric vehicle industry in Egypt. It will also contribute to the creation of new jobs and support efforts to upgrade the national economy.

The report referred to the announcement by Dr. Ayman Ashour, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, to begin steps to produce two new Egyptian medicines, as a result of the employment of scientific research outputs to support the national economy under the slogan "Made in Egypt", following the meeting and follow-up with a team of Egyptian scientists and pharmaceutical companies.

Dr. Ayman Ashour also visited the South Sinai Governorate. The visit included an inspection of construction works at the Suez University branch in Abo Redis, which reached 100% implementation rates. The Minister also inspected several new educational and service facilities at the branch of King Salman International University in Al-Tur.

The report indicated that the Minister held numerous meetings with ministers, ambassadors, foreign officials, and delegations of foreign universities; To explore mechanisms to promote joint scientific and research cooperation.

The Council heard a presentation by Dr. Fakhari, the Executive Director of the University Centers for Professional Development Project at American University in Cairo, about the role of these centers. It is the number 31 center in 23 universities. He also pointed out that cooperation and integration will be carried out with the "Be Ready" initiative launched by the Ministry, reviewing the activities and programs of the centers, which include (professional development services, networking with the business sector, and providing outstanding training programs. He noted the interest in developing (professional planning skills, technical skills, working life skills, and student self-discovery).

The Council followed up on the integrated feasibility study prepared to establish a university partnership project; to effectively start the reclamation of 200 acres for each university in the New Valley governorate. This is to establish model scientific specialized farms, in addition to following up the steps of initiating the project in the coming period, which is part of the State's plan for the development of the region of South Upper Egypt.

The Council approved the recommendations relating to the mechanisms required to implement the proposal for the development and restructuring of units of a special character of Egyptian universities and the establishment of university companies.

The Council also followed up on the implementation of the National Center for Training and Leadership Preparation of the Electronic and Knowledge Service Center at the secretariat of the Supreme Council of Universities.

Adel Abdul Ghaffar, the Media Adviser and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research said that the Council at its meeting followed the developments of the statistical reporting program for monitoring data of public universities in the secretariat of the Supreme Council of Universities, which includes (Admissions Department - Enrolment Department - Graduate Department - Integrated Education Department - Student Care Department - University Dormitories Resident Students Department - Student Care Department - Graduate Studies Department – Staff Members - University Leadership Department - Non-Staff Occupancy).

Finally, the spokesperson added that the Board had approved the future operational plan, timetable, and proposed activities for the "Teacher Excellence" initiative. It was funded by USAID; With a view to training staff members in selected education faculties as well as curriculum development.