English 
Professor Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, President of Alexandria University, paid a visit to the headquarters of the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom, to discuss reaching an agreement for establishing a number of joint degrees in several postgraduate and undergraduate programs and various professional programs in disciplines that serve the Egyptian state’s vision for sustainable development 2030.
This comes in line with the national strategic plan (Egypt 2030), and in implementation of the axes of the national strategy of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research launched by Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research last March, which is concerned with raising competitiveness of education globally, opening prospects of cooperation between Egyptian universities and the most prestigious and highest-ranked foreign institutions and universities in the world. It also aims at achieving maximum benefit in enriching expertise and educational and research quality, raising the competitiveness of graduates globally.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Rasha Kamal, Cultural Attachée and Director of the Educational Mission in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Dr. Ahmed Adel Abdelhakim, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, Dr. Amin Malti, officer in charge for the file of international agreements with British universities at Alexandria University, and on the British side, Professor Mark Smith, President of the University of Southampton, Professor Deborah Gill, Vice President for Education and Students, Professor Sabu Padmadas, Associate Dean International of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Sue Colley, Associate Dean International for The Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, and Professor Bashir Lwalid, Director of International Relations for the Middle East Region at the University.
The Egyptian Bureau for Cultural and Educational Affairs in in London played an important role in coordinating and organizing the visit of the President of Alexandria University to the United Kingdom, discussing scientific cooperation with distinguished British universities, and facilitating the conclusion of double scientific partnerships between the two sides. Dr. Rasha Kamal, the Egyptian cultural attaché and director of the educational mission in the United Kingdom and Ireland, accompanied the Alexandria University delegation in all its visits to British universities, in support of Alexandria University to conclude several scientific partnerships with British universities.
Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa stated that Alexandria University is seeking to sign many cooperation agreements with major international universities in order to contribute to linking scientific research with industrial applications, and to creating distinguished researchers in fields that are compatible with the higher education strategy within the framework of Egypt's 2030 strategy.
Dr. Konsowa indicated that during the meetings it was agreed to start a number of joint programs with the Faculties of Business, Computers, Law, Science, Arts and Engineering, and to support joint scientific and research cooperation between Alexandria University and the University of Southampton, as well as the sponsorship of Alexandria University to establish a joint research development program for outstanding researchers from Alexandria University with their counterparts from the University of Southampton, in order to serve the vision of the Egyptian state. This also comes in line with the national strategy for higher education and scientific research, one of the most important goals of which is to create a knowledge economy by linking scientific research with industry in its comprehensive concept.
In addition, Dr. Knosowa announced that the Alexandria University Technology Park, its business incubators and accelerators, will be linked to the to their counterparts in Science Park at University of Southampton. He added that during the visit, discussions included the idea of sending outstanding students from the joint degree program at Alexandria University for training at the University of Southampton for varying periods, according to the nature of their studies, to enjoy their study experience at Southampton during their study period.
While the University of Southampton members praised the level of graduates of Alexandria University and expressed their keenness to work in an integrated manner with Alexandria University, through a pivotal strategic partnership that serves the goals of developing scientific research and ensures obtaining the highest quality and academic appreciation for the graduates of the proposed dual programs.