On behalf of Prof. Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, President of Alexandria University, Prof. Dr. Afaf El-Oufi, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development, attended yesterday the closing session of the COSIMENA 2025 Winter School, organized by the Faculty of Fine Arts from 26 November to 7 December 2025.

This event comes within the framework of scientific cooperation between Alexandria University and several international partner universities, including Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus–Senftenberg, Bauhaus University Weimar in Germany, University of Sharjah, and Jordan University of Science and Technology, with full funding from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) under the COSIMENA 2025 program.

In her speech, Prof. Dr. El-Oufi thanked the organizers and participants for the rich scientific output presented during the Winter School, affirming that Alexandria University places great importance on documenting industrial and cultural heritage, as it represents a vital pillar in strengthening identity and preserving the city’s long-standing industrial history. She also emphasized the university’s continued support for academic activities that enhance students’ skills in digital documentation and the use of modern technologies in collecting and analyzing heritage data.

On behalf of Prof. Dr. Nevine Gharib, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Prof. Dr. Amani Reda, Acting Vice Dean for Community Service and Environmental Development, highlighted the Faculty’s vital role in supporting international partnerships and adopting modern architectural documentation methods, contributing to strengthening students’ research capabilities and keeping pace with global scientific trends.

Prof. Dr. Heba Abu El-Fadl, Head of the Architecture Department, also affirmed that the department is keen to enhance academic exchange with experts and specialists from Arab and foreign universities, supporting curriculum development and enriching the educational experience of Fine Arts students, particularly in the fields of architectural documentation and industrial heritage.

In the same context, Ms. Nermeen Abdel-Aaty, Coordinator of the Center of Excellence for Academic and Research Links between Germany and the Middle East and North Africa, affiliated with DAAD, explained that the center works to create effective communication networks between universities and experts in the fields of heritage and documentation, noting that this year’s Winter School stands as a successful model of international scientific cooperation.

Dr. Merhan Demir, Coordinator of the Winter School and Lecturer at the Architecture Department, presented the historical background of the Minet El Bassal Cotton Exchange Building, which served as the main study project of the workshop. Students documented the building using advanced digital documentation techniques, including 3D scanning and digital modelling. She praised the significant contributions of Egyptian and international experts in enriching the scientific and practical content offered to the students.

During the closing session, participating students delivered presentations showcasing the results of their work in documenting the Cotton Exchange Building. Their presentations were widely appreciated for their high accuracy and quality in analysis and delivery. This was followed by an open discussion session between students and organizers, highlighting key lessons learned and future plans. The events concluded with the distribution of certificates to the participants.