Dr. Ahmed Adel Abdel Hakim, Acting President of Alexandria University, received a high-level delegation from the Euro-Mediterranean University (EMUNI) in Slovenia, headed by Dr. Rado Bohinc, President of the University, and Dr. Jaka Vdanjal, Head of Academic Affairs, to discuss prospects for joint cooperation, strengthen international partnerships, and expand academic and research collaboration in support of expertise exchange and scientific integration among educational institutions.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Essam El-Kordy, President of Alamein International University; Dr. Affaf Al-Oufy, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development; Dr. Hassan Nadir Khairallah, former President of Alexandria University and member of the EMUNI Board of Trustees; Dr. Roshdy Zahran, former President of Alexandria University and former member of EMUNI’s Academic Council; Dr. Alaa Abdel Bari, Vice President of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research; Dr. Ali Abdel Mohsen, Supervisor of the International Relations Office; Dr. Jehan Gouaifel, Assistant President for Internationalization of Education and International Branch Campuses; Dr. Seddik Abdel Salam, former Vice President of Alexandria University; in addition to several leaders from universities and participating academic institutions.

The meeting discussed opportunities for establishing comprehensive cross-border research collaboration between EMUNI and partner universities in Egypt through joint research projects, exchange of faculty members and students, and academic support across educational and research activities.

During the meeting, Dr. Ahmed Adel Abdel Hakim emphasized Alexandria University’s commitment to strengthening academic and research cooperation with EMUNI and supporting scientific research development efforts across the Mediterranean region. He noted that Alexandria University is part of EMUNI’s network of partner universities, which receives support from the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean.

He explained that this partnership provides researchers and students at Alexandria University with broader opportunities to participate in joint research projects and postgraduate programs, including master's and doctoral studies focusing on shared challenges and issues across Mediterranean countries, in addition to exchange opportunities with European and African universities within the EMUNI network.

For his part, Dr. Rado Bohinc expressed his appreciation for Alexandria University and his interest in expanding areas of joint cooperation, emphasizing the importance of building on the ideas discussed during the meeting to establish a sustainable strategic partnership between both institutions.

He explained that EMUNI’s vision for higher education is based on three main pillars: cross-border and intercultural education, digitalization, and sustainability. He noted that EMUNI is an international higher education and research institution founded in 2008 in Piran, Slovenia, under the umbrella of the Union for the Mediterranean, with the goal of promoting cultural and knowledge integration.

He added that the university offers international English-language programs in various fields including digitalization, human rights, intercultural business communication, human movement and performance sciences, sustainable management, marine sciences, and science diplomacy. It also provides opportunities for study and cultural exchange through programs such as Erasmus and scholarships available to students from North Africa and the Middle East, in addition to specialized centers focusing on Arab heritage, Middle Eastern studies, environmental issues, and sustainable development.

Dr. Essam El-Kordy also expressed his appreciation to Alexandria University for hosting the meeting, stressing the importance of strengthening cooperation in higher education, scientific research, and innovation, while supporting Alamein International University’s vision for internationalization and global academic partnerships.

Dr. Alaa Abdel Bari also expressed the Arab Academy’s pride in its strong relationship with EMUNI, highlighting ongoing collaboration through several European Union-funded research projects under Erasmus+ programs, as well as participation in conferences, scientific workshops, and knowledge exchange initiatives.

The meeting also included introductory presentations on Alexandria University, Alamein International University, the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, the Center for Teaching Arabic to Non-Native Speakers at the Faculty of Arts, and the Alexandria Center for Maritime Archaeology and Underwater Cultural Heritage.