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Approval of University’s Five-year Strategic Plan
Today, Tuesday, February 27, 2024, the Alexandria University Council was held headed by Professor Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, University President, where he congratulated the members of the Council and the previous university administrations, on the signing of the memorandum of understanding two days ago to establish an international branch of Alexandria University in South Sudan, in the presence of the Ministers of Higher Education of Egypt and South Sudan. He stressed that part of Egypt's soft power is building bridges of cultural communication with the peoples of the African continent, and activating cooperation in all fields, especially education and scientific research, as they are the main components of progress and development in Africa. Dr. Konsowa explained that according to the agreement signed between the two sides, studies will begin in the agricultural and veterinary medicine programs in the city of Tonj campus, after all the buildings located on an area of 3,500 acres were completed, and the foundation stone will be laid for the second university campus in the capital, Juba, next May. The Juba campus is located on an area of 250,000 square meters, and the study there will be based on programs and some joint degree programs in cooperation with international universities, to be an attraction point for students in East Africa.
The Council approved the adoption of Alexandria University’s five-year strategic plan, through which the university seeks to strengthen its developmental role, enhance the quality of educational service, expand the scope of community participation, and raise performance in various academic and administrative processes to keep pace with the national trends represented by Egypt’s Vision 2030, and for the university’s outputs to be compatible with the labour market requirements. Dr. Konsowa explained that the plan was developed using a variety of strategic analysis tools to live up to the responsibility placed on the university to achieve excellence not only in the performance indicators of the education, scientific research and community service sectors, but also extends to international variables in higher education to achieve a governed, self-financed university with sustainable global competitiveness.
As part of the university’s keenness to continue providing medical and therapeutic services to its employees, the university president announced the renewal of the annual contract with Misr Insurance Company to provide health services to all employees, including medical examination, analyses, x-rays, medications, hospital treatment, and operations, etc.
The Council approved the establishment of a Doctor of Philosophy program in Petroleum Geology with a credit hour system at the Faculty of Science.
The Council honoured Dr. Heba Mahmoud El-Qadi on the end of her tenure as Dean of the Higher Institute of Public Health, wishing her success in her future endeavours.
The Council agreed to accept the donation submitted by Tadawoo Charitable Foundation, which is a plasma separation device for blood components, with a cost amounting to 1.25 million Egyptian Pounds to the Department of Neurology and Psychiatry (Stroke Unit at El-Hadra University Hospital).
The Council agreed to place the guidelines for infection control in Alexandria University facilities within the file to be submitted by the university to participate in the Best Environmentally Friendly University competition.
The Council approved the renewal of the memorandum of understanding between Alexandria University and Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the memorandum of understanding between Alexandria University and Elsewedy Electric Company, the memorandum of understanding between Alexandria University and the University of Zintan in Libya for cooperation in the field of higher education and scientific research, and the memorandum of understanding between the University of Alexandria and Džemal Bijedić University, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Council also approved the cooperation agreement between Alexandria University and the Korean Cultural Centre in Egypt to establish and operate the King Sejong Institute, the international academic cooperation agreement between Alexandria University and the University of Haute-Alsace in France, and the renewal of the cooperation agreement for the French neuroscience program between Alexandria University (Faculty of Science) and the Francophone University Agency (AUF) during the period ( 2022-2026), and the cooperation agreement between Alexandria University (Faculty of Tourism and Hotels) and the San Stefano Tourism Investment Company.
The Council approved the promotion of 18 faculty members, 2 to the position of professor, 16 to the position of associate professor, the appointment of 11 lecturers, and the granting of 63 doctoral degrees and 91 master’s degrees in various scientific disciplines.
Community Service and Environmental Development Council Discusses Plans to Develop Special Units, Reviews University’s Environmental Plans, Medical Convoy Reports, and Faculty Activities
Dr. Saeed Allam, Vice President of Alexandria University for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs, confirmed the interest of the Community Service and Environmental Development Sector in developing an integrated plan to develop units of a special nature at the university, solving all the obstacles they face, and raising their efficiency, in addition to paying attention to the human element and preparing training plans for them. The Vice President of the University added, during the Council for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs meeting, that work is underway to develop the marine section of Pharos Faculty Club, based on the directives of Professor Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, President of the University, in a manner suitable to provide all services to club members.
The Council reviewed the report submitted by Dr. Sherine Khattab, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Science for Postgraduate Studies and Research, on a number of environmental files related to the university, such as preparing an evacuation and emergency plan, an annual plan for crisis and disaster management, reviewing plans for workplace safety and health procedures for all faculties and institutes of the university, and training on infection control methods in university facilities, as well as preparing a program for separating and recycling waste, specifying the needs of each faculty for garbage bins designated for separating waste, a program for rationalizing energy consumption in faculties and institutes by replacing all lightbulbs with energy-efficient ones, rationalizing water consumption and using water savers, as well as practices related to biological diversity and combating desertification.
The Council reviewed the report submitted by Dr. Wafaa El-Sehli, Professor at the Faculty of Medicine and Rapporteur of the University’s Medical Convoys Committee, regarding the University’s organization of a medical convoy to the King Mariout area in cooperation with the Inner Wheel Capital Club. The total number of cases detected reached 650 cases in various medical specialties. Another convoy to was directed to El Cablat area in El-Amriya region, in cooperation with the National Council for Women, where the total number of cases reached 450.
• The Council approved the renewal of the appointment of Dr. Fahmi Charles, Emeritus Professor at the Higher Institute of Public Health, as an external member of the Council for a period of two years.
• The Council reviewed a number of reports, special activities, workshops, scientific seminars, initiatives, awareness lectures, training courses, literacy classes, and employment forums at different university faculties during the months of January and February 2024.
Minister of Higher Education Witnesses the Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to Establish an International Branch of Alexandria University in South Sudan
Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, witnessed the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding to establish an international branch of Alexandria University in Tonj and in Juba, South Sudan, at the Ministry’s headquarters in the Special Education Building in New Cairo.
Dr. Ayman Ashour stressed the importance of this memorandum in enhancing scientific and cultural cooperation between Egypt and South Sudan, noting that the establishment of an international branch of Alexandria University in South Sudan will open new horizons for cooperation between the two countries in the field of higher education.
The memorandum of understanding was signed by Professor Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, President of Alexandria University, and Dr. Gabriel Changson Chang, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of South Sudan.
The memorandum of understanding aims to establish an international branch of Alexandria University in the city of Tonj and in the capital, Juba, in the Republic of South Sudan, within the framework of Egypt’s keenness to support development efforts in South Sudan, assist it in building its human capabilities, and enable it to achieve its development goals, by providing a set of cooperation programs in the fields of (agriculture, veterinary medicine, education, nursing, engineering, business, biotechnology), in addition to other programs according to the needs and requirements of development in the Republic of South Sudan.
The memorandum of understanding also stipulates that students will be accepted into any of the programs in accordance with the admission rules decided by Alexandria University, and if funding is available, some outstanding students may be allowed to spend an academic year at Alexandria University in the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Under the memorandum of understanding, Alexandria University will develop courses that are compatible with the Egyptian National Qualifications Framework, so that the student studying at the university’s branch in South Sudan will obtain an educational experience similar to studying at the mother university within the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Alexandria University is also committed to providing faculty and administrative members to manage the programs provided by the branch, in addition to cooperating in organizing programs to develop and build the capabilities of leaders among citizens of the Republic of South Sudan.
During the signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding, Dr. Ayman Ashour expressed his pleasure at signing this memorandum, stressing Egypt’s keenness to support education in South Sudan and provide higher education opportunities for students there, noting that establishing a branch of Alexandria University in South Sudan will play a major role in promoting relations between the two countries.
For his part, the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of South Sudan expressed his thanks and appreciation to Egypt for its continued support for South Sudan in various fields, stressing the importance of this memorandum in developing higher education in his country.
Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa stressed that the establishment of a branch of Alexandria University in South Sudan will have a major positive impact on higher education there, as it will provide higher education opportunities for students there in various specializations, in addition to enhancing academic and research cooperation between Egyptian universities and universities in South Sudan.
On the sidelines of signing the memorandum of understanding, the two sides discussed the executive program signed between the two countries. The program includes providing scholarships to South Sudanese students, as well as scholarships offered annually to undergraduate and postgraduate students from South Sudan to study in Egypt.
Dr. Ayman Ashour indicated that the Ministry is fully prepared to provide the necessary facilities to students of South Sudan studying in Egypt, as well as to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Egyptian universities and their counterparts in South Sudan in many disciplines.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the two sides expressed their pleasure at signing the memorandum of understanding, stressing the importance of joint cooperation in the field of higher education and scientific research.
The signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding was witnessed on the Egyptian side by Dr. Sherif Saleh, Head of the Cultural Affairs and Missions Sector, Dr. Ibrahim Rehab, Advisor to the President of Alexandria University for African Affairs, Ambassador Tamer El-Meligy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Howaida Ezzat, Director General of the General Administration of the Ministry’s Information Office, and from South Sudan, Mr. Gatluk Shawish Nyawela, Acting Ambassador, Mr. Yugo Edwar, Legal Adviser, Mr. Charles Magic Chong, Director of Training at the Ministry, and Mr. Michael Manyang Ngong, Cultural Attaché at the Embassy.
Inauguration of “Interdisciplinary and Cross-Disciplinary Studies in Higher Education” Seminar at Institute of Graduate Studies and Research
Under the auspices of Professor Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, President of Alexandria University, the university hosted the Egyptian National Interdisciplinary Network (ENIN), to hold a symposium on “Interdisciplinary Studies in Higher Education,” in the conference hall of the Institute of Graduate Studies and Research. The event was attended by Dr. Hesham Saeed, Vice President of Alexandria University for Graduate Studies and Research, Dr. Ahmed Abdelrehim, Acting Dean of the Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Dr. Boshra Salem, Network Coordinator, Assistant President of the University for International University Ranking, and a group of researchers in various disciplines and those interested in interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary sciences from various Egyptian universities.
In his speech, Dr. Hesham Saeed confirmed that the symposium aims at defining a vision, strategies, and future outlook for interdisciplinary, cross-disciplinary and transient sciences, noting that this symposium is the second, as the first meeting was in May 2023 in Cairo under the patronage of Professor Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in cooperation With the Egyptian Knowledge Bank, during which the Egyptian National Interdisciplinary Network was announced.
Dr. Saeed added that the need for multidisciplinary curricula has become more urgent than ever before, as collective efforts and interdisciplinary, diverse, and overlapping disciplines can shape the path of knowledge and create significant, meaningful changes and impacts. He pointed out that interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary sciences are considered an important field that brings together many different disciplines and scientific fields that interact with each other, and cooperate to solve problems and explore complex topics that transcend the boundaries of traditional disciplines.
He added that through this type of science, methods and concepts from different disciplines such as chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics, and biostatistics are employed to understand the natural phenomena in a deeper and broader way, as well as concepts and approaches in various fields such as medicine, engineering and computers to produce innovative solutions to scientific problems, and to enhance cooperation between researchers and specialists in multiple fields in order to face current global challenges and achieve progress and prosperity in various scientific fields and human technology.
Dr. Saeed stressed that biochemistry, nanoscience, and biology neuroscience are some of the interdisciplinary fields that have grown into their own specializations. He added that trans-science is one through which non-academic stakeholders can be involved in the knowledge production process and is considered a promising idea for addressing the world's most pressing issues, knowledge production and decision-making.
While Dr. Boshra Salem gave a presentation on the Egyptian National Interdisciplinary Network (ENIN), and its scope and objectives. Salem indicated that interdisciplinary sciences have an important and vital role in confronting many of the phenomena occurring in the world, such as the phenomenon of climate change, which requires cooperation between different disciplines to reach innovative solutions involving relevant experts. She pointed out that the network aspires to achieve cooperation between Egyptian universities in the interdisciplinary sciences to deal with complex challenges that individual disciplines are unable to deal with. She also added that Alexandria University seeks to activate this idea by hosting the Egyptian National Interdisciplinary Network in Universities is in its first activity since its launch in May 2023, with the aim of disseminating the idea of interdisciplinary programs in higher education, especially since it is one of the pillars of the 2030 Strategy of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
Inauguration of 43rd Edition of Scout Festival and 15th Guidance Course for Alexandria University’s Rover Scouts
Under the auspices of Professor Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, President of Alexandria University, Dr. Ali Abdelmohsen, Acting Vice President of the University for Education and Student Affairs, inaugurated today, Sunday, February 25, 2024, the 43rd edition of the Scout Festival and the 15th guidance course for the Alexandria University’s rover scouts, held at the youth city stadium in Abu Qir, with the participation of 380 male and female rover scouts from 19 faculties of Alexandria University. The festival activities continue over 9 days.
In his speech, Dr. Abdelmohsen thanked the deans, vice deans and students participating in the festival, the General Administration of Youth Welfare, the Rover Scouts Administration, and the supervisors of all faculties for the successful organization that confirms the success of teamwork. He extended his thanks on behalf of Professor Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, President of the University for all the rover scouts’ teams within Alexandria University. He pointed out that the university is sparing no effort in providing all forms of support to its students, hoping for an increase in student activities during the schoolyear. In the same context, he inspected the campgrounds of Alexandria University’s rover scouts’ teams, which displays basic models of daily living.
Several seminars are scheduled to be held on the sidelines of the festival, the most important of which is the “Symposium on Drug Addiction” to raise awareness of the dangers of drugs on the health of our youth, which is organized by the Preventive Affairs Department, Health Education Department at the university.
