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In line with the directives of His Excellency President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to strengthen openness toward international universities, and within the framework of the Ministry of Higher Education’s efforts under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Abdel Aziz Konsowa to promote international cooperation, Prof. Dr. Ashraf Heniegal, President of Suez University, paid an official visit to Shanghai Ocean University, where he met with Professor Min Hui, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the university.
The visit came as part of activating the provisions of the memorandum of understanding previously signed between the two universities, in the presence of Prof. Dr. Osama Kaddour, former Dean of the Faculty of Fish Resources and member of the university’s International Cooperation Office.
One of the most significant outcomes of the visit was the agreement to launch a dual-degree 2+2 academic program, whereby students will study for two years at Suez University and complete the remaining two years at Shanghai Ocean University. Upon fulfilling the requirements in Chinese language, mathematics, and physics, students will receive accredited degrees from both universities.
The areas of cooperation also include:
Full scholarships for teaching assistants at Suez University after meeting the criteria set by both universities.
Postdoctoral research opportunities for faculty members.
Faculty exchange programs and participation in international scientific conferences.
Joint research projects funded by the Egyptian and Chinese governments, in addition to internationally funded projects.
During the visit, the President of Suez University also met with the university’s teaching assistants currently on scholarship at the Chinese university, reaffirming his full support for them and wishing them success. He further emphasized the importance of serving as distinguished ambassadors for Egypt and their university.
The negotiations also resulted in the preliminary approval of Shanghai Ocean University to participate as a principal partner in the Second International Conference on the Blue Economy, scheduled to be held at Suez University next October. The university’s Q1-ranked journal, Marine Science and Technology, is expected to serve as the official publisher of the conference proceedings.
In a statement, Prof. Dr. Ashraf Heniegal, President of Suez University, affirmed that this cooperation comes in implementation of the political leadership’s directives to transfer technology and develop higher education in line with labor market needs. He stressed that the university is continuing to strengthen its international presence through strategic partnerships with distinguished academic institutions.
For his part, Prof. Dr. Osama Kaddour explained that the agreement with Shanghai Ocean University represents a strategic step toward the internationalization of Suez University, particularly through the launch of the 2+2 program, which enables students to benefit from the expertise of both universities and earn dual degrees. He added that the cooperation extends beyond education to include joint research, academic scholarships, and the exchange of expertise, thereby reinforcing the university’s position as a distinguished scientific institution capable of competing internationally.