- Dr. Ayman Ashour thanks the political leadership for supporting the national universities.

- The Minister confirms that the Prime Minister’s support for national universities reflects his commitment to developing higher education and scientific research.

- The Minister praises the efforts of former ministers of higher education and state institutions in supporting national universities.

- Ashour appreciates the efforts of the Engineering Authority and the Ministry of Housing in the success of the national universities initiative.

Minister of Higher Education confirms:

- The number of national universities will increase to 27 by 2025 to enhance development in Egyptian cities.

- The ministry is advancing higher education through interdisciplinary programs at national universities to meet global challenges.

- Egyptian national universities are collaborating with leading international universities.

- There has been a notable increase in student enrollment at national universities thanks to the efforts of the Egyptian government.

- National universities attract over 150,000 students in Egypt.

- Graduating a new class from international national universities marks the beginning of a long journey of achievements.

Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, attended the graduation ceremony for the first class of students from national universities 2024 (King Salman International, Alamein International, Galala), with the presence of Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population, Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, along with various ministers, governors, university presidents, and media representatives, at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza Governorate.

The event began with a documentary film about the establishment of the international national universities and the commencement of their studies, which include universities: (Galala, Alamein International, King Salman International). The film highlighted the compliance of these universities with the regulations set by the Supreme Council of Universities and showcased some of their faculties offering programs aligned with the latest international standards.

The film also featured speeches from graduates of the three national universities, where students from Galala University, Alamein International, and King Salman International shared their academic experiences, praising the integration of theoretical and practical aspects, which provided them with practical skills and prepared them efficiently for the labor market.

In his speech, Dr. Ayman Ashour expressed his gratitude to the political leadership for their full support of the higher education system, particularly national universities. He also thanked the Prime Minister for attending the graduation ceremony of the first class from three international national universities that began in the academic year 2020-2021. This support reflects the Prime Minister’s interest in higher education and scientific research. Ashour also acknowledged the efforts of former higher education ministers, especially Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar during his tenure, and the efforts of the Engineering Authority and the Ministry of Housing.

The Minister noted that the concept of establishing national universities dates back to 1908 with the founding of King Fouad I University, now Cairo University. This idea was revived under President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, leading to the creation of 20 national and international national universities with around 200 faculties offering advanced educational programs, including more than 410 interdisciplinary programs, in addition to traditional programs. This year, seven new national universities will be established, starting in 2025-2026, increasing the number of national universities to 27 by 2025. These universities benefit from the human and material resources of government universities, making them pioneering and contributing to the expansion of universities across Egypt.

Dr. Ayman Ashour emphasized that the ministry's vision for developing higher education focuses on enhancing interdisciplinary programs at national universities. These programs provide excellent education for integrated disciplines to meet current challenges and labor market changes. The ministry has prepared national universities not only materially but also by training faculty members to design interdisciplinary programs in collaboration with international experts.

The Minister explained that as part of the internationalization of education, which is a key principle of the national strategy for higher education and scientific research, Egyptian universities, especially national ones, are seeking partnerships with many global universities. National universities have partnerships with institutions such as the University of Louisville, Jean Moulin University, West Virginia University, James Madison University, Hiroshima University, and Arizona State University. The ministry continues to implement the presidential initiative "Alliance and Development," which aims to link university outputs with economic entities in each region, with national universities joining ranking teams in preparation for international rankings, and training personnel to ensure this goal is achieved, reflecting the state's commitment to quality higher education and enhancing the international standing of universities.

Dr. Ayman Ashour confirmed that the proactive approach adopted by the Egyptian state has led to an increased enrollment in national universities. In the 2021/2022 academic year, approximately 8,000 students were enrolled, rising to 21,000 in 2022/2023, and exceeding 42,000 in 2023/2024. It is expected that the number of enrolled students will exceed 60,000 this year, bringing the total number of students at national and international national universities to more than 150,000.

The Minister highlighted the contribution of national universities to various community initiatives in collaboration with public and private universities, such as the "Decent Life" initiative and other presidential initiatives that promote national identity and strengthen the relationship between students and society. These universities also place great importance on diverse student activities, including sports and cultural events, and participate in innovation and entrepreneurship activities.

Dr. Ayman Ashour concluded that graduating a new class from international national universities is the beginning of a long journey of achievements. These universities are not just educational institutions but beacons of knowledge and creativity that contribute to shaping Egypt’s future. He expressed confidence that the graduates of these universities will be the leaders of the future, equipped with knowledge to face global challenges. He stated that today’s celebration is not only about student success but also about a bright future for higher education in Egypt, and today’s achievement is a step towards a more promising tomorrow, expressing his pride and admiration for the graduates, urging them to continue their ambitious journey with determination and resolve, stating that the future is in their hands, and they are capable of shaping it.

Dr. Adel El-Adawi, representing the boards of trustees of the three national universities and former Minister of Health, delivered a speech during the ceremony. He began by thanking President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for his significant interest and support for the establishment of these national universities and for providing the necessary resources. He also thanked the Prime Minister for attending the ceremony and praised the efforts of the boards of trustees in overcoming challenges and difficulties to achieve the success of this remarkable educational experiment.

Dr. Essam El-Kordi stated that celebrating the graduation of the first class of Alamein International University represents a significant milestone in the journey of higher education and reflects pride in Egypt’s achievements. He noted that the university is one of the newest fourth-generation universities, with smart infrastructure, and it plans to expand from 6 to 10 academic fields by 2024/2025, reaching approximately 7,000 students. He emphasized that graduates are now at the beginning of a new phase in their careers, and the university is proud of their achievements and looks forward to their effective contributions to community development. He extended his sincere appreciation and gratitude to the political leadership for their continued support of higher education and thanked the Prime Minister for his presence and support for Egyptian universities.

Dr. Ashraf Hussein, President of King Salman International University, described the university as a prominent scientific institution and a symbol of effective collaboration between education and labor market preparation. He expressed his great happiness with the graduation of the first class in various fields such as tourism and hospitality, languages, arts and design, administrative sciences, desert agriculture, basic sciences, and computer sciences. He highlighted that the university has provided excellent educational services to all graduates, applying the latest international standards during their studies to ensure quality education and training.

Dr. Mohamed El-Shanawi, President of Galala University, mentioned that the total number of students at the university reached over 8,600 for the 2023-2024 academic year, studying in 41 academic programs across 13 fields, including medical, engineering, and humanities sectors. He noted that the university has increased the number of academic programs for the new academic year 2024-2025 to 45 programs across 14 fields, including 9 programs offering dual degrees in collaboration with Arizona State University. He pointed out that the university aims to offer more than 20 new academic programs in partnership with Arizona State University and that the first graduating class has completed studies in 6 academic fields: media production, administrative sciences, basic sciences, applied health sciences, arts and design, and nursing sciences, along with 6 students receiving presidential scholarships in computer science.

It is worth mentioning that studies at the national universities (Galala University, Alamein International University, and King Salman International University) began in 2020. Since then, studies in various programs and faculties have been successfully ongoing. These are fourth-generation smart universities that rely on digitization and interactive activities.

King Salman International University has three branches in (Taba, Sharm El Sheikh, Ras Sudr) and offers diverse educational programs in fields such as medicine, engineering, computer sciences, tourism, and arts. The university has advanced facilities, including laboratories, conference halls, and sports and cultural facilities. Since its establishment, the university has followed a strategic plan to attract students and has provided scholarships to more than 800 students. Its innovative teaching methods have successfully employed over 80% of the first graduating class, and the university contributes to the development of South Sinai, offering scholarships and health and consulting services to the community.

Galala University offers programs that align with labor market demands and has local, regional, and international partnerships, including with Arizona State University. These include 9 programs in fields such as electrical engineering, software engineering, graphics technology, information technology, business administration, marketing, computer information systems, sports management, and psychology.