This morning, Prof. Dr. Ashraf Hnijal, the SU president, participated in the meeting of the Supreme Council of Universities. This meeting was chaired by Prof. Dr. Mohamed Ayman Ashour, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Secretariat of Prof. Dr. Mustafa Rafat, the Secretary of the Council, and the distinguished members of the Council...

((quoted from Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research page))

Dr. Ayman Ashour praised:

- Entering 46 Egyptian universities among the world's top universities in the Thames Sustainable Development Ranking.

- 15 Egyptian universities listed in the world QS ranking for 2025.

- Egypt topped the first Arab place in the several periodicals listed in the Clarivate classification for international journals for 2024.

- Regular workflow of end-of-year examinations according to schedules.

The minister directs to:

- Rapid completion by universities of the results of the end-of-year examinations.

- Universities intensify plans for sports and cultural activities during the year-end vacation to support the youth's talents and promote the spirit of belonging.

- Comprehensive plan to maintain the laboratories and university facilities during the year-end vacation.

At its meeting, the Council approves:

- Coordination of admission to government universities and institutes for all certificates in the same rules last year.

- Conducting capacity tests following the completion of the general secondary examinations.

- Cancellation of capacity tests for faculties of qualitative education.

Furthermore, the Supreme Council of Universities held its periodic meeting on Thursday under the chairmanship of Dr. Ayman Ashour, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. This meeting was attended by Dr. Reda Hijazi, the Minister of Education and Technical Education, Dr. Mostafa Rafat, the Secretary of the Council, and the members of the Council. It was conducted at the headquarters of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the new administrative capital.

The Council also congratulated President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on the 11^th anniversary of the glorious June 30 Revolution, praying to Allah to restore this glorious occasion to Egypt for progress, advancement, and prosperity.

Moreover, the Minister commended the achievements in international university classification including the inclusion of 46 Egyptian universities in the Times' Sustainable Development Ranking for 2024, up 18 from last year Egyptian universities are among the top 100 universities worldwide in the sustainable development goals. In addition to the inclusion of 15 Egyptian universities in the world QS ranking for 2025 which included the ranking of 1500 universities from various universities of the world in addition to the progress of Egyptian scientific journals in the classification of clarifier for international journals for 2024, Egypt has taken the first Arab place in several periodicals listed in the classification, and the addition of two new periodicals in the list of medical journals.

Therefore, Dr. Ayman Ashour stressed that these achievements serve as an international testimony to the quality of higher education in Egypt and affirms the State's commitment to the development of the system of higher education and scientific research. He also appreciated all efforts made in this regard, including technical support provided by the Ministry and the Egyptian Knowledge Bank to universities. Then, he directed the need for universities to continue providing support to researchers. This is to increase scientific publishing in prestigious international scientific journals to upgrade the rankings of Egyptian universities in the world's largest rankings.

The Minister praised the regular progress of the end-of-year examinations according to the schedules, in the light of the reports submitted by university presidents. He appreciated the efforts of teaching staff members, associated staff, and university administrators, and their full commitment during these exams. He guided the rapid completion of all faculties from the announcement of exam results.

Hence, Dr. Ayman Ashour stressed the importance for universities to implement and expand plans for sports, artistic, cultural, and social activities as well as supporting sports and artistic talents during the current academic year-end vacation; To take advantage of the potential of the youth, develop their spirit of belonging and loyalty. He instructed the need to use the vacation period to conduct the maintenance work required by laboratories and facilities university.

The Council listened to a report on the highlights of activities of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research over the past month, including the Minister's visit to Russia to participate in the eleventh meeting of Ministers of Higher Education of BRICS member States; To expand cooperation and integration among Member States in the areas of (energy, water sources, computer science, environment, renewable energy, economics and humanities, as well as agricultural technology) and to meet with Russian, Belarusian, and Emirati counterparts; To promote cooperation with them. He also met with the Deputy Director General of Russia's leading Rosatom Foundation in nuclear technology. This was conducted during his visit to the National University of Nuclear Research and the Moscow Institute of Architecture.

On one hand, the report referred to the Minister's participation in a meeting of the Council of Ministers to discuss proposals for the development of the general secondary level, another to follow up the implementation of the axes of the National Project for the Development of the Egyptian Family, and participation in the round table held within the Conference on Information Security and Cybersecurity "Caisec 24".  He also participated in the meeting of the Joint Egyptian American Council for Science and Technology, the signing of a cooperation agreement between the University of Mansoura New and the French University of Evanston, and the signing of a cooperation agreement between the French University of Egypt and the University of Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne of France. On the other hand, this is to launch new programs in hotel management, tourism facilities, heritage tourism management, and the events of the Career Qualification Conference entitled "National Strategy for Higher Education and Scientific Research". It was organized by the University Centers for Professional Development project.

The report also highlighted the inspection of Dr. Ayman Ashour to the headquarters of the " Matjar " mobility solutions company; To follow up on the manufacture of the first electric vehicle with the participation of the Ministry represented by the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, a visit to the land of the new 9042-metre Penha University Hospital. He also opened the treatment of stroke and brain clots unit at Ain Shams University. He participated in the plenary session of the Senate on "Artificial intelligence and its role in the development of higher education and scientific research. He met a delegation from the South African Development Alliance (SADC) to learn about Egypt's experience at the Egyptian Knowledge Bank and met with university presidents, directors of centers of excellence, and representatives of the United States Agency for International Development. He also inaugurated the annual scientific conference of the Faculty of Engineering at Ain Shams University and held several meetings with ambassadors and foreign officials; To explore ways of supporting scientific and research cooperation.

Dr. Adel Abdul Ghaffar, the Media Adviser and Official Spokesman of the Ministry, said that the Council approved the rules for coordinating the admission of government universities and institutes for students with Egyptian high school diplomas and equivalent (Arab and foreign certificates), technical certificates, and Al Azhar high school certificates this year to attend government universities and institutes in the academic year 2024/2025 in the same harmonized rules as last year.

The Council also confirmed that all faculties of public universities are admitted following the rules of geographical distribution.

The Council approved the rules and procedures for the admission of students to Egyptian universities and institutes (first degree, postgraduate studies) for the academic year 2024/2025.

The spokesperson explained that the Board had agreed to conduct capacity tests for faculties requiring that, immediately after the completion of the general secondary examinations, the same rules and procedures as last year's admission examinations.

The Council approved the cancellation of capacity tests for the faculties of quality education in Egyptian universities.

The spokesperson explained that the Board had agreed that:

• Activate the study with two master's programs (neurosurgery and heart as well as chest surgery) at the University of Fayoum.

• Establishment of the Oncology Institute (Research and Therapeutic) at Menoufia University to be attended by the Oncology Hospital, taking the necessary legislative action.

• Establishment of the Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine at the Sohag University, taking the necessary legislative measures.

• Establishment of an adult education center at Sohag University.

• In addition to two programs: (Urban Planning and Design as well as Chemical and Petrochemical Engineering) in bachelor’s degree in the Faculty of Engineering of Tanta University.

• Addition of postgraduate diplomas in accredited hours system at the Faculty of Tourism and Hotels in specializations (tourism studies, tourism guidance, and hotel management) at Suez Canal University.

• Addition of new programs in English with a bachelor's degree in the Faculty of Tourism and Hotels (Tourism Guidance, Tourism Studies, Hotel Management) at Sadat City University.

• Commencement of the Bachelor's Construction Technology Program at the Faculty of Technology and Education at Beni Suef University.

• Narrowing disability science and rehabilitation departments and programs, including (autism disorder, early intervention, multiple disabilities, and measurement and evaluation of disabled people) at Zagazig University.

The Council approved the proposal for a cooperation protocol between the Ministries of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Planning and Economic Development, and the National Training Academy on cooperation for the implementation of several joint training programs; To support youth participation in public work, support the State's efforts in various areas of development, develop coordination mechanisms and organize effective cooperation between them; thereby maximizing the use of each party's potential and capabilities.

The Board listened to a presentation by D. Sherif Kashak, the Assistant Minister for Smart Governance, on linking different programs for statistical data and monitoring data of public universities through existing electronic platforms of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the secretariat of the Supreme Council of Universities, to integrate and standardize the source of data.

The Board also heard a presentation by Dr. Ayman Farid, the Assistant Minister for Strategic Planning, Training and Rehabilitation for the Labor Market on the recommendations of the Annual Meeting of the Project (University Centers for Professional Development) held last May, in implementation of presidential assignments quickly finalizing the system of building vocational development centers in Egyptian universities.

General Directorate of the Public Information Office and Spokesperson