The Supreme Council of Universities held its periodic meeting, headed by Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in the presence of Dr. Mustafa Refaat, Secretary of the Council, and members of the Council, at the headquarters of Alexandria University.
The Council thanked the Alexandria University family, headed by Dr. Abdulaziz Qanswa, President of the University, for hosting the meeting of the Supreme Council of Universities.
Dr. Ayman Ashour also congratulated the university professors who were included in the President of the Republic's decision to appoint them to the Senate, which reflects the confidence of the political leadership and state institutions in university professors and their national role in supporting the development process.
The Minister praised the active role of universities in organizing many cultural events and seminars on the occasion of the 52nd anniversary of the glorious October victories, by hosting symbols of thought, culture, national security, and modern media with university students, and highlighting the lessons learned from them.
The Minister praised the achievements achieved in terms of international university classification, including the inclusion of 26 Egyptian universities in the Times Higher Education World Classification for the year 2026, and the presence of 9 Egyptian universities among the top thousand universities in the world. The Minister directed the necessity of universities continuing to provide support to researchers to increase scientific publishing in prestigious scientific journals. To improve the ranking of Egyptian universities in major international classifications.
The Minister indicated that the "Tamkeen" initiative will be activated for the academic year 2025-2026, as the activities will be launched during the period from October 25 to 30, in the universities of the seven regions, through expanded awareness campaigns, as they aim to introduce the services of centers to support students with disabilities, and develop awareness of the culture of inclusion and equality between students, faculty members and university workers, explaining that the events It will continue during the Thursdays of November 2025, to ensure the sustainability of community interaction and expand the scope of participation within the university community, with the activities concluding on Thursday, December 4, 2025, coinciding with the celebrations of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
The Council heard a report on the most prominent activities of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research during the month of October, and the Minister indicated that in the presence of Mr. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic, and Mrs. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, it was announced that the Arab Republic of Egypt has officially joined the "Horizon Europe" program for research and innovation, the main program of the European Union in the field of scientific research and innovation, making Egypt the first Arab country and the second African country. She joins the programme, in a historic step that embodies a new chapter of scientific diplomacy and international cooperation between Egypt and the European Union, and confirms the joint political will to enhance cooperation in the fields of knowledge, innovation and sustainable development.
Also, in the presence and honor of Mrs. Intisar El-Sisi, wife of the President of the Republic, the Minister participated in the ceremony honoring the top students in technical education for the academic year 2024/2025, which was held under the slogan "Artistic and Proud," in the presence of a group of ministers, where the Minister announced the allocation of 34 full scholarships to the top students in technical education for the academic year 2024/2025.
The Minister highlighted his visit to France to participate in the work of the 222nd session of the Executive Council of UNESCO. He also made an inspection visit to Beit Misr at the International University City in Paris, and met with a number of Egyptian students at French universities and educational institutions. Dr. Ayman Ashour also held many meetings where he met with a delegation from the French Gustave Eiffel University, and visited the Aleccis Educational Group in France to discuss mechanisms for enhancing cooperation. Academic and exchange of experiences, and inspected the National School of Architecture in Grenoble ENSAG, as well as inspected several research laboratories within the school.
Dr. Ayman Ashour also participated in the meeting of the Executive Council of UNESCO, in its 222nd session, which was held at the organization's headquarters in Paris, which witnessed the announcement of the election of Dr. Khaled Al-Anani to the position of Director-General of the organization. The Minister also participated in the ceremony honoring Dr. Khaled Al-Anani at Helwan University, on the occasion of his election to the position of Director-General of the organization.
Under the patronage of Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, Dr. Ayman Ashour participated in the activities of the First International Conference on Artificial Intelligence, which was held at Cairo University. The Minister also participated in the first ministerial session of the conference to outline the features of the future of artificial intelligence, to raise the efficiency of institutional performance and national plans to integrate it into all sectors of the state. In this context, the Minister praised the success of the conference, which included the participation of a group of ministers and an elite group of experts, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and industrialists. Dr. Mohamed Sami Abdel Sadiq, President of Cairo University, explained that the conference contributed to the exchange of distinguished opinions and ideas, as more than 80 dialogue sessions and forums were organized, with the participation of more than 350 key speakers and specialized experts, in a unique event in which more than 20 thousand participants participated. The conference succeeded in creating a common language of dialogue between academic circles and the industrial sector, to crystallize a common vision for the future of artificial intelligence.
Dr. Ayman Ashour chaired the meeting of the Fulbright Commission's Board of Directors, and the meeting dealt with presenting the results of Fulbright grants to graduate students, professors and professionals from both countries, as well as reviewing the programs implemented by the Commission to host American experts and professors at Egyptian universities and ministries in various fields.
Dr. Ayman Ashour witnessed the conclusion of the activities of the Egyptian-French Forum for Scientific and University Cooperation. He also witnessed the tenth session of the meeting of the Egyptian-Chinese Joint Committee to support areas of scientific and technological cooperation. He also witnessed the activities of the closing session of the Graduation Projects Competition within the activities of the Eighth Cairo Water Week. He participated in the graduation ceremony of the 19th batch from Senghor University in Alexandria, which coincided with the celebration of the 35th anniversary of its founding. He participated in the launching ceremony. The National Strategy for Urbanism and Green Building, and the opening of the Chest Diseases Conference.
The Minister also held many important meetings, most notably the first meeting of the Permanent Coordinating Committee to unify and coordinate visions between hospitals affiliated with the Ministries of Higher Education, Health, and Population, the regional meeting of the Global Research Council for the Middle East and North Africa, the meeting of the Board of Directors of the City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, the meeting with the French Ambassador in Cairo, and the meeting with the Italian Ambassador in Cairo.
Dr. Adel Abdel Ghaffar, the media advisor and official spokesman for the Ministry, stated that the Council agreed at its meeting to nominate Dr. Mohamed Sami Abdel-Sadiq, President of Cairo University, Dr. Ahmed El-Minshawy, President of Assiut University, and Dr. Ashraf Hanigel, President of Suez University, for membership in the Council of Private Universities for the academic year 2025/2026.
The official spokesman added that the Council approved the nomination of Dr. Sherif Khater, President of Mansoura University, Dr. Nasser El-Gizawi, President of Benha University, and Dr. Essam Farhat, President of Minya University, for membership in the Council of Private Universities for the academic year 2025/2026.
The Council followed the efforts of the committee formed headed by Dr. Abdulaziz Qanswa, President of Alexandria University, to promote the media of Egyptian universities through various platforms, by producing diverse digital content that addresses target groups at home and abroad.
The Council listened to a detailed presentation by Dr. Abdulaziz Qanswa, President of Alexandria University, on the efforts of the formed committee to transform Egypt into a regional and international center for education, scientific research and innovation, which contributes to building a knowledge economy and attracts students and researchers from all over the world, by encouraging public universities to enter into partnerships to grant dual degrees with prestigious universities, internationalizing public universities, establishing branches outside Egypt, and exporting the brand. For Egyptian education and re-establishing its historical position, increasing the number of foreign students enrolled in Egyptian universities, linking scientific research to global publishing and the knowledge economy through "technology valleys," linking research to industry, as well as reviewing the executive steps to implement these axes.
The Council listened to a detailed presentation by Dr. Sherif Khater, President of Mansoura University, about Mansoura University's experience in the internationalization of higher education, during the past three years. The presentation included a review of the steps that the university has taken to internationalize higher education, and the expansion of academic partnerships with prestigious international universities, as well as a review of international models of international universities with extensive experience in the field of internationalization of higher education, as well as a review of the current situation at the university. And performance measurement indicators, highlighting the proposed policies and strategies to expand the internationalization of higher education.
The Council listened to a detailed presentation by Dr. Gouda Ghanem, Head of the Education Sector and General Supervisor of the Coordination Office's work, on the coordination work for the academic year 2025/2026. The report included a presentation on the most prominent work accomplished by the Office of Coordination of Admissions to Universities and Institutes for the year 2025, as the Coordination Office succeeded in distributing 1,022,622 male and female students from Egyptian high school and high-achieving schools. In science and technology, the International Nile Certificate, Arab and foreign equivalent certificates, Al-Azhar secondary school certificates, and technical certificates at public universities and institutes via the electronic coordination website.
In this context, the Council thanked the coordination office team, under the supervision of Dr. Jouda Ghanem, for their distinguished efforts during the various coordination stages.
The Council also thanked Cairo University, headed by Dr. Mohamed Sami, President of the University, for hosting the Coordination Office and providing all forms of support and facilities necessary for the work of the Coordination Office.
The Council also thanked the Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Universities, under the supervision of Dr. Mustafa Refaat, Secretary of the Council, for providing all forms of technical support for the work of the Coordination Office.
The Council also thanked the General Administration of the Media Office and the Ministry's official spokesman, under the supervision of Dr. Adel Abdel Ghaffar, the Ministry's media advisor and official spokesman, for its prominent role in educating students on how to coordinate, and providing guidance guides and explanatory means to students during the coordination stages.
The Council listened to a presentation by Dr. Omar Sharif Omar, Secretary of the Supreme Council of University Hospitals, about following up on permanent maintenance work in university hospitals, to ensure the continued provision of appropriate health services to citizens.
The council was informed that the Benha University Council had approved the guide for the university's psychological support unit, as a specialized entity concerned with the mental health of students and workers within the university.