As part of its efforts to enhance international presence and expand its network of academic partnerships, Alexandria University, headed by Acting President Dr. Ahmed Abdel Hakim, received a high-level delegation from Sciences Po Lyon, France, to discuss ways of fostering joint cooperation and developing student and academic exchange programs between the two institutions.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Hesham Saeed, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research; Dr. Afaf El-Aoufi, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development; Dr. Ali Abdel Mohsen, Supervisor of the International Relations Office; Dr. Gehan Goweifel, Advisor to the President for Internationalization and Branch Campuses; and Dr. Sherine Adel, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Political Science.

The French delegation included Dr. Emmanuelle Retailliau, Head of International Relations at Sciences Po Lyon, and Dr. Salma Hergel, Assistant Professor of Modern History and Coordinator of Student Mobility Programs to the Arab World and Turkey.

During the meeting, Dr. Ahmed Abdel Hakim emphasized Alexandria University’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with leading international universities, particularly French institutions. He highlighted the university’s interest in activating student and faculty exchange programs, as well as launching joint academic and research programs in various fields, including engineering, law, economics, political science, and business administration, in addition to teaching Arabic to non-native speakers. These efforts aim to prepare graduates capable of competing in the global labor market.

Dr. Hesham Saeed noted that this collaboration represents an important step toward supporting the research and postgraduate system, stressing that international partnerships contribute to the exchange of research expertise and the enhancement of academic output quality, thereby strengthening the university’s regional and global standing.

Dr. Affaf El-Oufy expressed the university’s aspiration to expand cooperation with the French side, particularly in research projects related to sustainable development, green economy, and climate change, reinforcing the university’s role in community service and addressing environmental challenges.

For their part, members of the French delegation expressed their pleasure at visiting Alexandria University, praising its distinguished academic standards and affirming their eagerness to expand joint cooperation, especially in the fields of political science, economics, and social sciences, in a way that serves the mutual interests of both parties.