Minister of Higher Education:

- National universities are a key pillar of Egypt's higher education system.

- National universities contribute to the absorption of several students applying and enrolling in university education.

- National universities participate in national initiatives to serve Egyptian society.

The Council of National Universities held its regular meeting, chaired by Dr Ayman Ashour, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. It was attended by Dr. Maher Mesbah, the Secretary of the Council of National Universities, and members of the Council, at the Ministry's headquarters in the New Administrative Capital.

At the beginning of the meeting, the minister congratulated Dr. Sherif Khater, the President of Mansoura University, Dr. Nasser El-Gizawy, the President of Benha University, and Dr. Essam Farahat, the President of Minya University, for being nominated by the Supreme Council of Universities for the academic year 2025/2026.

The Minister referred to the visit of Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly to Suez National University, where he congratulated Dr. Ashraf Hnijal, the acting of Suez National University, on the successful organization of the visit, noting that the university is one of the recently established national universities, which aims to provide a distinguished educational experience to qualify students to be able to keep pace with the requirements of the labor market.

Moreover, Dr. Ayman Ashour stressed that national universities have become a prominent place within the higher education system in Egypt. He also expressed his happiness that these achievements were achieved through careful study to re-exploit state-owned assets and use them in the educational process, through advanced academic programs that meet the needs of the local, regional, and international labor market. He noted that national universities represent an important tributary in Egypt's higher education system and play a key role in absorbing the growing demand for university education without imposing any financial burden on the state.

Therefore, the Minister praised the distinguished partnerships of national universities with several prestigious international universities in various educational fields, and the provision of modern dual-degree study programs to provide an international educational experience in Egypt. He pointed out that work continues to provide modern disciplines and study programs that keep pace with the requirements of the labor market, in addition to supporting talented students and encouraging them to excel and innovate.

Dr. Ayman Ashour also praised the active role of national universities in organizing many cultural events and seminars on the 52^nd anniversary of the glorious October victories, by hosting figures of thought, culture, national security, and modern media with university students, and highlighting the lessons learned from them.

In addition, the minister pointed out the importance of strengthening the role of private universities in serving the community. He explained the role played by national universities in actively participating in national initiatives, including the presidential initiative "Haya Karima", by organizing convoys, holding educational seminars, and implementing various activities, in addition to intensifying cooperation with academic, research, and industrial institutions within the framework of implementing the presidential initiative "Alliance and Development".

Then, the council listened to a presentation by Dr. Hossam Osman, the Deputy Minister for Innovation and Scientific Research, on the organization of an annual entrepreneurship forum, which will offer prizes to winning startups and university entrepreneurship teams, as part of encouraging students to take an interest in entrepreneurship and startups.

As well, Dr. Adel Abdel Ghaffar, the Media Advisor and Official Spokesperson of the Ministry, said that the Council of National Universities adopted a mechanism for students enrolled in national universities and those applying to change course in various study programs at national universities.

The Council was informed of the decision of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research regarding the formation of the selection committee for the President of the New Ismailia University.

In addition, the Council was informed of the decision of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research on the formation of the selection committee for the president of Nile Community University.

The Council also praised the effective role played by the Secretariat of the Council of National Universities in training the student affairs officers of the new national universities on the unified system on the electronic system for registering students of national universities, under the supervision of Dr. Maher Mesbah, the Secretary of the Council of National Universities, and Dr. Sherif Koshk, the Assistant Minister for Smart Governance and Director of “Intalak” Platform, where Cairo University and Ain Shams University hosted the student affairs officers of private universities in the presence and participation of university vice presidents for academic affairs of the 12 universities established by Republican decrees for 2025.

The council listened to a presentation on the admission of students to national universities in different faculties and programs, adding new faculties and programs and distributing them to the seven regions, in line with the implementation of the National Strategy for Higher Education and Scientific Research 2030.