Minister of Higher Education chairs the meeting of the Supreme Council of Universities at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport in New Alamein

Minister of Higher Education directs:

- Continued readiness of all universities` laboratories throughout the electronic coordination phase at its different stages.

- Readiness of universities to participate in the "Learn Healthy" initiative to assess the physical competence of all new students.

- The readiness of universities to participate in the "100 Days of Sport" initiative at the beginning of the new academic year.

- The readiness of university hospitals to receive new students and take the necessary medical examinations before joining universities.

Minister of Higher Education praised:

- Inclusion of 8 Egyptian universities in the Shanghai Chinese General Classification for 2024.

on Saturday, the Supreme Council of Universities held its periodic meeting at the branch of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport in the new city of Alamein. It was chaired by Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in the presence of Mr. Mohamed Abdullatif, Minister of Education and Technical Education, Dr. Mustafa Rafat, Secretary of the Council, and members of the Council.

The Council thanked the family of the Arab Academy of Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport under the chairmanship of Dr. Ismail Abdulghafar, President of the Academy, for hosting the meeting of the Supreme Council of Universities.

The Council congratulated Dr. Mohammed Sami Abdul Sadik as he was appointed to be the Acting President of Cairo University, Dr. Mohammed Hussein as the Acting President of Tanta University, Dr. Rawia Yahya as the Acting President of Port Said University, Dr. Luai Sa 'addin as the Acting President of Aswan University, and Dr. Sabrin Abdul-Jalil as the Acting President of the Luxor University and wished all of them success and progress.

The Council also congratulated Dr. Omar Sharif as he was appointed to be the Acting Secretary of the Supreme Council of University Hospitals and Dr. Ahmed Anani as he was appointed to be the Adviser to the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research for Health Policies. The Council wished them success and progress.

Moreover, Mr. Mohammed Abdullatif, Minister of Education and Technical Education, explained the challenges facing the pre-university education system at the level of classroom deficits, teacher deficits, and intensity of curricula compared to regional and international education systems. The Minister presented the elements of the Ministry's executive plan to deal with these challenges at all levels.

Meanwhile, The Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research has consistently directed the readiness of computer laboratories in all public universities to assist students throughout the electronic coordination phase to join government universities and institutes and to provide technical support through the provision of qualified mentors to assist students to ensure that the way is paved for them throughout the coordination phase.

The Minister has also consistently directed universities to receive the new academic year 2024/2025, through completing all maintenance work on buildings, classrooms, laboratories, and university dormitories, and to ensure the safety of all university facilities to preserve lives and facilities.

The Minister also directed that all university hospitals should be ready to receive new students who would make the necessary medical disclosures before enrolling in universities and ensure that all logistical needs are met to continue its work in providing health services to citizens.

The Minister directed the willingness of universities to participate in the "Learn Healthy" initiative in the light of the State's interest in human development and the forthcoming launch of a new initiative to support Egyptian citizens under the designation of (New Start to Human Construction) for 100 days, with the participation of several ministries. The Ministry of Higher Education will participate in a program (Learn Healthy) to assess the physical competence of all the new university students estimated at 650 thousand students through the participation of university and student hospitals. The initiative aims to undertake a field study of physical competence and to benefit from results in improving students' overall efficiency and health through awareness, health counseling, and clinical counseling based on proper evaluation. If the program is successful for first-year students, the idea will be gradually disseminated to the university's other years students.

The Minister also directed the readiness of universities to participate in the "100 Days of Sport" initiative, in conjunction with the International Day of University Sport (20 September and the beginning of the new academic year). The goal is to devote 30 minutes to exercise and various activities each day. It is also intended that at least 50 universities will participate with 10,000 students in each participating university, bringing the total number of students to 500,000.

In addition, Dr. Ayman Ashour praised the activities in which universities participate in the new city of Alamein, including the participation of universities in the Motor Rally, which was co-sponsored by Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, with 43 student teams from 28 Egyptian universities with 750 students participating in the current year's edition, as well as the participation of universities in the AL-Alam Alamein Festival, in all cultural, artistic, and sporting activities.

The Minister also commended achievements in the international university rankings, including the inclusion of 8 Egyptian universities in the top 1,000 universities worldwide in the Shanghai Chinese General Ranking for 2024. The Minister pointed out that universities should continue to support researchers to increase scientific publishing in prestigious scientific journals to upgrade the rankings of Egyptian universities in the world's largest rankings.

The Council listened to a report on the most prominent activities of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in August. This presentation was presented by Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, the Prime Minister. Raleigh Electric Vehicles Egypt "EVER" was organized by the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in cooperation with the United Media Services Company. It was hosted by the new city of Alamein, in the presence of Dr. Ayman Ashour, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and several ministers.

Therefore, the Minister of Higher Education and the President of the Egyptian Medicines Authority witnessed the signing of a cooperation protocol between the Ministry of Higher Education. It was represented by the Higher Council of Universities and the Egyptian Medicines Authority, to establish a clear mechanism for the implementation and follow-up of training (excellence) for pharmacists graduating from Egyptian universities. To refine graduates' skills and provide them with the practical expertise necessary to keep pace with developments in the field of pharmacy, to serve the interests of citizens and the university education system, and to provide them with means of qualifying and developing the capacities and competence of graduates to meet the requirements of the labor market.

Dr. Ayman Ashour also opened the Embassy of Knowledge in the Egyptian Cultural Office in Washington, via video technology conferences, and the Minister participated in the opening of the Embassy of Knowledge at the International University of Alamein, intending to disseminate knowledge to all researchers and scholars in all Egyptian universities in all regions.

The Minister chaired the meeting of the Council of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, which announced the names of the winners of the 2023 State Awards in Advanced Technological Sciences and Sciences, the names of the winners of the 2023 Pioneers and Women's Awards, and the names of the winners of the 2023 Bodies and Individuals Awards.

Dr. Ayman Ashour chaired the first meeting of the ministerial committee to implement the project to harmonize the outputs of the study with the labor market. It was attended by the Minister of Education and Technical Education and the Minister of Labor, ways of developing training programs to meet the requirements of the labor market were discussed education ", providing real jobs for graduates, linking education to the labor market, seeking mechanisms to link higher education outcomes to the needs of different sectors, and encouraging cooperation between universities and companies.

As well, Dr. Ayman Ashour participated in the first meeting of the ministerial working group to study the recommendations of the study of Senate Youth Committee entitled "Artificial intelligence…Opportunities and challenges ", and to review what has been implemented in AI programs and applications over the past years in various fields of work, as well as the future needs and challenges facing them, to identify similarities and differences between what is on the ground and what the study can offer in the field of AI, as part of a unified effort among all State institutions.

The Minister also participated in the meeting of the Ministerial Group for Human Development; to coordinate work between ministries, improving health care and early diagnosis of diseases, enhancing the quality of education, improving access to outstanding education, expanding vocational education programs, and raising the standard of living

The Minister held a meeting with the Minister of Culture; To explore the maximization of cooperation between the two sides and the development of an expanded action plan; To promote the awareness and culture of university students in various sectors, develop a new system for discovering and caring for talents students in literary and artistic fields, establish cultural activities and university book exhibitions, and present art and theatre performances at university theatres.

Hence, the minister held a meeting with the Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities to follow up on the executive position of ongoing projects at the International and New Mansoura Universities.

The Minister participated in the meeting convened by Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, the Prime Minister; To follow up on the operational position of the new National Institute of Oncology Hospital in Sheikh Zayed City (500,500) and its operational plans, and to study all offers for the operation of the hospital; To find the best ones, work on the speed of the first phase running soon.

Dr. Ayman Ashour witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Rowan America University and Modern Group University Foundation (MES); to establish a branch of the American University of Rowan within the branches of foreign universities hosted by the Arab Republic of Egypt.

The report noted that many meetings were held with foreign officials; To explore mechanisms to promote joint scientific and research cooperation.

Dr. Adel Abdel-Ghaffar, the Media Adviser and Spokesperson of the Ministry stated that the Council adopted the modernization of regulations for the organization of graduation ceremonies for students in Egyptian universities, to emphasize that the organization of graduation parties and university student events is exclusive within the campus and facilities of the university and that no event held outside the university facilities may be named "Graduation ceremony". The name or logo of the university may not be used in such events. The teaching staff members and associated staff and administrators of the universities are prohibited from attending them. Such a presence is considered a departure from the original university values and traditions. The event is also scheduled in the annual quarterly activity plan. This plan is adopted by the relevant councils and approval of the Faculty Council must be obtained if the activities are organized at the department, program, division, or faculty level. If an event is organized at the university level, the approval of the competent Vice-Chancellor and the University Council must be obtained. A committee is formed to oversee the organization of any student event under the chairmanship of a teaching staff member and membership of several faculty members and administrators of the university A committee or more executive committees shall be formed and the teaching staff members and associated staff of the university shall be the basis of the strength of these committees; These committees carry out their executive functions under the supervision of the supervisory committee, and students participate as collaborators in implementation under the supervision of the supervisory committee and the executive committees.

To maximize the soft power of Egyptian universities, the Council reviewed the adoption by the Prime Minister of the vision of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research for Egyptian universities to offer study programs in cooperation with universities of the Gulf States and Africa. These programs must be awarded degrees to maximize the investment of Egyptian universities in their scientific and human assets and knowledge rights outside the country. The Council authorized the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research to take the necessary action in this regard.