((Quoted by the official website of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research))) 

Minister of Higher Education chairs meeting of the Supreme Council of Universities at the Ministry’s headquarters in the New Capital 

Minister of Higher Education emphasizes: 

- Full readiness for online coordination and the provision of all forms of support to students in university computer centers. 

- Development of an integrated national system for research, development, and innovation. 

- Continued efforts by universities to rationalize energy and water consumption. 

- Activating the role of universities in countering deviant ideas and extremist ideology, in cooperation with all relevant ministries and bodies. 

- The Council adopts a comprehensive framework for evaluating the performance of Egyptian universities. 

- The Council discusses an additional track to the existing ones for the promotion of academic staff, focusing on innovation. 

Therefore, the Supreme Council of Universities held its regular meeting, chaired by Dr. Abdulaziz Qanswa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Acting Minister of Culture, in the presence of Dr. Mustafa Refaat, Secretary of the Council, and the members of the Council, at the Ministry’s headquarters in the New Capital. 

At the start of the meeting, the Council congratulated Dr. Abdulaziz Qanswa on the political leadership’s confidence in him to assume the role of Acting Minister of Culture, wishing him continued success and guidance. 

As well, the Council expressed its gratitude to the university presidents whose terms of office are due to end at the end of this July, commending their outstanding efforts and fruitful contributions during their tenure as heads of their respective universities. He also thanked Dr. Yasser Magdy Hatata for his efforts during his presidency of Fayoum University, Dr. Ahmed Al-Manshawy for his efforts during his presidency of Assiut University, and Dr. Louay Saad El-Din Nasrat for his efforts during his presidency of Aswan University, wishing them continued success and guidance in their future endeavors. 

Dr. Abdulaziz Qanswa emphasized the need to finalize all preparations for the online coordination process for admissions to public universities and institutes for the new academic year, and to ensure that computer labs at various universities are ready, and that the necessary technical support and guidance are provided to students, to guarantee the smooth running of the online admissions process and the provision of services to students with ease and convenience throughout all stages of the process. 

Hence, the Minister emphasized the need to strengthen the role of universities in fostering intellectual and cultural awareness among students, by intensifying cultural and intellectual activities, organizing seminars and events that reinforce the values of national belonging and identity, and promoting a culture of constructive dialogue, thereby contributing to the development of informed generations capable of facing challenges, and to contribute effectively to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The Minister directed Egyptian universities to join forces in countering deviant ideas and extremist ideology through a clear methodology and sustainable implementation plans throughout the academic year, utilizing all means of awareness-raising to engage with the youth, in cooperation with all relevant state ministries and institutions. 

Dr. Abdulaziz Qanswa noted that the Ministry is continuing to develop an integrated national system for research, development, and innovation, linking universities and research centers with industry, supporting technology transfer and commercialization, and transforming research outputs into applications and products of economic value that contribute to the national economy. 

The Minister commended universities for their continued implementation of green transition plans, the expansion of renewable energy use, the rationalization of energy and water consumption, and the adoption of sustainable practices; all of which enhance resource efficiency and support the state’s efforts to achieve sustainable development. 

In addition, the Council heard a report on the most notable activities of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research during June, which included a meeting held by Dr. Mustafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, with Dr. Abdelaziz Qanswa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Acting Minister of Culture, the President of Cairo University and the Dean of the Kasr Al-Aini Faculty of Medicine, to review the development plan for Cairo University’s ‘Kasr Al-Aini’, thereby contributing to the development of university hospitals and improving the quality of healthcare services provided to citizens. 

The report noted that the Minister discussed with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptians Abroad ways to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the two ministries in the fields of higher education, scientific research, and international academic relations, with a view to supporting the expansion of international academic cooperation. He also met with the Deputy Secretary-General of the Engineers’ Union to discuss mechanisms for supporting the innovation and applied research system and the training of engineers in line with labor market requirements. 

As part of efforts to strengthen international cooperation, the Minister received the British Ambassador to Egypt and the Hungarian Ambassador to discuss ways of expanding cooperation in the fields of higher education, scientific research, innovation and culture. He also participated, on behalf of the Prime Minister, in the celebrations organized by the Embassy of the French Republic in Cairo to mark France’s National Day. 

The report also covered the Minister’s inspection tours, which included Helwan Private University; he also inaugurated several projects at the University of the Capital, thereby strengthening the educational and medical infrastructure and supporting the university’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. 

The inspection tour of Dakahlia Governorate included a meeting between the Minister and the Governor of Dakahlia, as well as the inauguration of a number of new projects at Mansoura University, at a cost exceeding one billion Egyptian pounds, thereby supporting the development of health and educational services provided to citizens. The Minister also chaired a meeting of the University Council to review development and modernization efforts. 

As part of his overseas visits, the Minister took part in the First International Islamic Forum on Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan and discussed with his Uzbek counterpart ways to strengthen cooperation in the fields of higher education, scientific research, and innovation, thereby contributing to the expansion of scientific and research cooperation between the two countries. 

The Minister also took part in the events of the “Transforming Education” at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, where he presented Egypt’s pioneering experience in digital transformation through the Egyptian Knowledge Bank, and held a number of meetings with UNESCO officials and the Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport of the Republic of Armenia to strengthen cooperation in the fields of higher education, scientific research, and innovation. 

Moreover, the report added that the Minister chaired meetings of the Supreme Council for University Hospitals, the Council for National Universities, the Supreme Council for Private Higher Education Institutions, and the Higher Committee for Comprehensive Development Convoys, to monitor performance across all these sectors and outline future planning to improve performance within them. He also took part in a meeting of the National Council for Education, Research, and Innovation, and held a meeting to review the Ministry’s communications plan for the online coordination stages of admissions to public universities and institutes for the new academic year. 

The Council also discussed a proposal put forward by Dr. Mustafa Refaat, Secretary of the Supreme Council of Universities, regarding a new track to be added to the existing tracks for the promotion of academic staff. This new track is designed to serve the knowledge economy, as it focuses on innovations arising from scientific research that can be transformed into products contributing to the national economy. 

The Council reviewed the comprehensive framework guide for evaluating university performance, which ensures the governance of higher education institutions as the cornerstone for advancing the higher education system, and sets out a roadmap for further developing university performance, thereby helping them to enhance their standing and supporting their competitiveness at regional and international levels. 

The Council heard a presentation by Dr. Mona Hegres, Assistant Secretary of the Supreme Council of Universities and Secretary of the Cultural Relations Committee, on bilateral cooperation agreements involving Egyptian universities, a review of the process for revising agreements relating to academic qualifications, the work of the Cultural Relations Committee, and a list of agreements currently under review. 

Dr. Adel Abdel-Ghaffar, media adviser and official spokesperson for the Ministry, stated that the Council had approved the decision of Mansoura University’s Governing Board to establish a branch of the university in Eritrea. 

The official spokesperson added that the Council had approved the appointment of Dr. Yassin Al-Shazli, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Ain Shams University, to serve as legal adviser to the Supreme Council of Universities for a period of one year. 

The Council heard a presentation by Dr Sayed Qandil, Vice-Chancellor of Al-Asema University, on the operational measures taken by the university to rationalize energy and water consumption. 

The Council also heard a presentation by Dr Ahmed Al-Qasid, Vice-Chancellor of Menoufia University, on measures to rationalize and improve energy efficiency at Menoufia University. 

The Council also heard a presentation by Dr Yahya Zakaria Eid, President of Kafr El-Sheikh University, on the measures the university has implemented to rationalize energy use. 

The Council reviewed the latest initiatives undertaken by universities to upload sustainability research to the dedicated online platform for publishing research data addressing environmental issues, the green transition and sustainable development across Egyptian universities. 

The Council reviewed the vision of the National Technical Committee for International Ranking and its role in supporting the Egyptian higher education system and promoting a culture of international rankings within universities, by transforming local competition between higher education institutions into national and international cooperation that contributes to enhancing the global reputation of Egyptian universities and strengthening their standing and competitive edge. 

The Council also reviewed the ongoing training programs organized by the Egyptian Knowledge Bank for editors of Egyptian scientific journals, in collaboration with major international publishing houses, with the aim of enhancing the efficiency of editorial boards, improving the quality of journals, and increasing their chances of being included in global databases.