Mansoura University President Participates in Supreme Council of Universities Meeting in the New Administrative Capital

 The Council began its meeting by congratulating Dr. Nasser Mandour on his reappointment as President of Suez Canal University, wishing him success in his duties.

 The Minister praised President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for honoring a number of university students in recognition of their achievements and international awards in the fields of architecture, programming, engineering, student leadership, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing.

 The Minister emphasized the importance of universities continuing their efforts to educate students on the responsible use of social media, highlighting the dangers of its irresponsible use, combating rumors and misinformation, and developing critical thinking skills and the importance of verifying information before sharing it. He emphasized the need for the swift implementation of the initiatives and recommendations that emerged from the Egypt 2026 Forum, most notably the completion and operation of 27 national and technological universities across the country before the end of 2030, and the launch of the "Innovation State" initiative, with a budget of 500 million Egyptian pounds, to transform innovative ideas into viable applications and projects.

 The Minister explained that the Ministry is working to develop academic programs through a high-level committee for specialization development. This committee monitors the workforce needs of economic sectors at the local, regional, and international levels and compares these needs with the distribution of students across academic programs. This comparison helps to develop programs according to the competencies and skills required by the labor market. Efforts include establishing a digital platform to monitor market needs, facilitating updates to academic programs at Egyptian universities, and introducing new scientific and interdisciplinary specializations.

 Prof. Abdel Aziz Qansouh noted the continued support for students' practical skills through 39 skills support centers at Egyptian universities, and the organization of initiatives and events that connect final-year students and recent graduates with the industrial sector and companies. He also emphasized the importance of strengthening the international presence of Egyptian universities by establishing branches in Africa, Asia, and the Arab region, and expanding partnerships and agreements with prestigious international universities, in addition to the nine existing branches of foreign universities in Egypt.

 The Minister directed the swift increase in the number of beds in existing university hospitals and the opening of new hospitals, which will contribute to increasing capacity and improving healthcare services provided to citizens.

 The Minister commended Egypt's advancement of three places in the 2026 Global Innovation Index and the inclusion of 40 Egyptian universities in the 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, stressing the need to continue supporting researchers and encouraging scientific publication in prestigious journals, which will enhance the standing of Egyptian universities in international rankings.

 The Council reviewed a report on the most prominent activities of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research during October, most notably the Minister's participation in the session "What Are Our Children Learning... And Does It Prepare Them for the Future?" as part of the Egypt 2026 Forum, held under the theme "A Look at Today... A Vision for Tomorrow," in the presence of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The report addressed the development of the higher education and scientific research system, efforts to develop academic programs and link education and scientific research to labor market needs, as well as indicators of the system, which includes 131 universities, 85 institutes, approximately 4 million students, and 154 university hospitals. It also covered the development of scientific publishing and Egypt's presence in international rankings.

 During the meeting, the Council was informed of Mansoura University's approval to launch the Mansoura University Award for Entrepreneurship and Startup, supporting the university's efforts to encourage innovation and transform research ideas and outputs into viable projects.

 Dr. Adel Abdel Ghaffar, the Ministry's Media Advisor and Official Spokesperson, stated that the Council approved Menoufia University's hosting of the 15th University Youth Week in 2028.

 Prof. El-Sayed Kandil, Acting President of the Capital University, presented the "State of Student Talents in Egyptian Universities" project, which aims to discover, develop, and nurture student talents, and provide students with opportunities to transform their abilities into valuable achievements, projects, and initiatives. The Council also listened to a presentation by Dr. Hamdan Rabie, President of Damietta University, regarding efforts to prepare a comprehensive proposal for developing university sports and reviving university leagues, which would support the discovery of athletic talent and the development of students' abilities.

 Dr. Karim Hammam, the Minister's Advisor for Student Activities and Director of the Leadership Development Institute, presented a vision for developing the university theater system in cooperation with the Ministries of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Culture. This vision includes training students in acting, directing, elocution, and writing, in addition to the artistic and technical aspects of theatrical production.

 The Council discussed reports from the presidents of several universities regarding their most prominent research and innovative projects, and ways to utilize their results and transform them into applications and products, as well as linking scientific research to industry. The Minister directed the commencement of implementing outstanding and applicable projects, with the necessary support from the Ministry and universities, to contribute to supporting the national economy.

 The council also reviewed the third periodic bulletin of AI-powered think tanks, presented by Prof. Mohamed Sami Abdel-Sadek, President of Cairo University. The bulletin addressed societal issues and development priorities, including the localization of oncology drug manufacturing, engineering technologies supporting environmental sustainability, smart agriculture, and advanced diagnostic and treatment methods.

The meeting also included presentations on the achievements and plans of several universities for developing institutional performance, digital transformation, and the medical system, as well as enhancing strategic readiness. These universities included those in Cairo, Damanhour, Qena, and Fayoum.