Alexandria University, headed by Professor Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, President of the University, and Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University in the United Arab Emirates (HBMSU), headed by Dr. Mansour Al Awar, Chancellor of the University, celebrated the graduation of the first class of the joint master’s program in Innovation and Change Management. This program is being offered for the first time in Egypt through cooperation between the two universities as a joint degree based on the smart learning model.

The ceremony was attended by Dr. Hisham Saeed, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research at Alexandria University; Dr. Sameh Shehata, Supervisor of the International Relations Office at Alexandria University; Dr. Boshra Salem, Deputy Supervisor of the International Relations Office at Alexandria University; Dr. Mustafa Mahmoud Nour El Din, Vice Chancellor for International Cooperation at Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University; Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Ankit, Acting Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University; and Dr. Fahad Mohammed Rashid Al Saadi, Vice Chancellor for Learner Development at Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University.

In his speech, Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa welcomed the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University delegation, commending the joint efforts to establish a unique scientific and academic collaboration through the Master of Science in Innovation and Change Management program. This specialized degree prepares current and future leaders to address global changes and keep pace with national trends. The program relies on an educational approach that integrates traditional education with smart e-learning. This is a significant addition to the graduate programs offered by Alexandria University and the first fruitful collaboration with Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University, a pioneer in the field of smart education and distance learning. The university president emphasized the continuation of cooperation between the two parties in the future, and the expansion of joint work to include new programs in many modern and advanced fields related to future sciences.

For his part, Dr. Mansour Al Awar expressed his pleasure with the graduation of the first batch of the joint program between the two universities, which is the culmination of the knowledge and educational cooperation between two of the most prominent leading universities in the Arab world. He emphasized the importance of the program as it is a real guarantee for the graduation of entrepreneurs, change leaders, hope makers, and knowledge ambassadors qualified to envision and create a better future. It is also a strong start to the journey of transformation towards providing university programs in the Arab world, which is a unique experience that goes beyond the boundaries of traditional education, as it is presented according to the “Hybrid Education Model” that Hamdan Bin Mohammed University recently launched, which is considered the best educational model in terms of combining “synchronous education” and “asynchronous education” methodologies. Dr. Al Awar expressed his pleasure in offering this unique program in cooperation with Alexandria University, one of the oldest and largest universities in the Arab Republic of Egypt. This adds great value to Hamdan Bin Mohammed University's pioneering achievement, which reflects his university's vision of building effective strategic partnerships. He emphasized his aspiration to expand the scope of the partnership with Alexandria University to include the launch of new joint programs, in addition to enhancing cooperation in the fields of scientific research, faculty exchange, and skill-building and rehabilitation programs that meet the evolving needs of our Arab region and the world. He expressed his hope that this program will contribute to building new capacities in line with Egypt's Vision 2030.

The program graduates expressed their pride in obtaining a master's degree in this distinguished program, which has provided them with a wealth of experience and opened up creative horizons through innovative teaching methods, helping them advance their life and career paths. They extended their thanks and appreciation to Alexandria University and HBMSU for their efforts in creating a unique educational experience.

It is worth noting that registration for the Master of Science in Innovation and Change Management opened for the 2020/2021 academic year, following a hybrid learning model. Targeting graduate students, the program provides students with specialized knowledge and skills on how to overcome resistance in the change process and maximize learning and innovative thinking to anticipate and address the repercussions of change. It also prepares students to create a culture of innovation and develop innovation and change management strategies.