In preparation for the new academic year, the Minister of Higher Education directs:
* Early preparation for the new academic year and the announcement of class schedules before the start of the academic year.
* Universities to develop plans for student activities and awareness and educational seminars for students on various challenges.
* The Council discusses promoting Egyptian universities both domestically and internationally.
* The Council approves the rules and regulations for faculty promotions in the new session.
* The Minister of Higher Education commends the inclusion of six Egyptian universities among the top 1000 universities worldwide in the 2025 Shanghai Ranking.
The Supreme Council of Universities held its regular meeting today, Saturday, chaired by Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and attended by Dr. Mustafa Refaat, Secretary of the Council, and the Council members, at Sadat City University.
The Council expressed its gratitude to the Sadat City University community, headed by Dr. Shaden Muawiya, the University President, for hosting the Supreme Council of Universities meeting.
The Council expressed its gratitude to Dr. Shaden Muawiya, President of Sadat City University, whose term as president ends in mid-September. The Council commended the development she achieved across all aspects of university operations, which had a positive impact on improving the education system and serving the local community.
The Council congratulated Dr. Ismail Ismail Ibrahim on his appointment as Acting President of Kafr El-Sheikh University, Dr. Tariq Ali Mohamed on his appointment as Acting President of Beni Suef University, and Dr. Amr Ahmed El-Masry on his appointment as Acting President of Matrouh University, wishing them success in their future roles.
The Council also congratulated Dr. Mustafa Refaat, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Universities, and the entire Council Secretariat staff on the Council's achievement of four ISO certifications: ISO in Quality Management, ISO in Occupational Health and Safety Management, ISO in Knowledge Management, and ISO in Governance Management.
The Minister expressed his gratitude to the team behind the "Be Prepared" initiative, under the supervision of Dr. Ayman Farid, Assistant Minister for Strategic Planning, Training, and Labor Market Qualification, and Acting Head of the Cultural Affairs and Missions Sector. He also thanked the university presidents and directors of career development centers for their significant efforts in ensuring the success of the second edition of the initiative, "Be Prepared: One Million Innovative Qualifications."
The Council also thanked the Coordination Office team, under the supervision of Dr. Gouda Ghanem, Head of the Education Sector and General Supervisor of the Coordination Office, for their outstanding efforts during the previous coordination phases.
The Minister further expressed his appreciation to the General Administration of the Media Office and the Ministry's Official Spokesperson, under the supervision of Dr. Adel Abdel Ghaffar, Media Advisor and Official Spokesperson, for their prominent role in educating students about the coordination process and providing them with guidance and explanatory materials during the previous coordination phases. He also acknowledged the administration's crucial role in promoting the presidential initiative "Be Prepared," in cooperation with the media departments of the universities.
The Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research emphasized the necessity for universities to develop plans for diverse student activities (sports, arts, cultural, and social) and to support talented students before the start of the new academic year. He noted that student activities are among the most important foundations of the educational system, aiming to strengthen and support teamwork, consolidate and solidify human bonds among students, and are among the most important means of student integration into society.
The Minister directed the development of plans to implement awareness and educational seminars for students on various challenges, enhance their sense of belonging, and intensify awareness campaigns to counter concepts and ideas that contradict the tolerant religious beliefs and the authentic cultural and societal heritage of the Egyptian people, in preparation for the 2025/2026 academic year.
As part of the preparations for the start of the 2025/2026 academic year, Dr. Ayman Ashour directed that preparations begin early and that colleges announce their class schedules well in advance of the start of the academic year, so that students have ample time to familiarize themselves with them.
Dr. Ayman Ashour praised the achievements in international university rankings, including the inclusion of six Egyptian universities among the top 1000 universities worldwide in the 2025 Shanghai Ranking, one of the most prestigious global rankings. The Minister directed universities to continue supporting researchers to increase scientific publications in reputable journals, thereby improving the ranking of Egyptian universities in major international classifications.
The Council reviewed a report on the most prominent activities of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research during August. Dr. Ashour highlighted his visit to Amsterdam, Netherlands, where he visited the headquarters of Elsevier to strengthen cooperation with the Egyptian Knowledge Bank and its integration into the Fourth Generation Universities Network. He also discussed expanding existing cooperation in scientific publishing, access to international databases, and integrating artificial intelligence tools into scientific research. The Minister also visited the headquarters of Incision, a global company, and a series of strategic contracts were signed between the Egyptian Knowledge Bank and the company.
Dr. Ayman Ashour participated in a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population to strengthen research partnerships in combating cancer, developing innovative treatment solutions, and improving disease detection and accurate diagnosis systems. This collaboration is between the Ministries of Higher Education and Health and Population and the University of Oxford.
Dr. Ashour also participated in a meeting with the Palestinian Prime Minister and several ministers. During the meeting, he reviewed the implementation plan and program document for the reconstruction plan, having overseen the team that prepared the Gaza reconstruction plan.
