Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Cairo University’s monthly council meeting, chaired by Acting President Dr. Mohamed Sami Abdel Sadeq, was held in the Ahmed Lotfy El-Sayed Hall and attended by university vice presidents, faculty deans, the secretary-general, and presidential advisors. The session covered key developments in academic, research, international cooperation, and institutional planning.
The meeting began with a congratulatory message from the university’s leadership to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the Armed Forces, and the Egyptian people on the occasion of the 52nd anniversary of the October War victory. Dr. Abdel Sadeq emphasized that the war’s legacy remains a source of national pride and a symbol of resilience for all Egyptians.
In a show of academic pride, the council extended its congratulations to Cairo University researchers featured on Stanford University’s list of the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists. The university was also praised for maintaining its position among the top 500 global universities in the 2025 Shanghai Academic Ranking (ARWU), reaffirming its place as Egypt’s leading higher education institution. The council also acknowledged Cairo University’s recognition in the Sustainable Campus Index (SCI) for its achievements in environmental and institutional sustainability.
In support of research excellence, the council announced the launch of two new awards to encourage and reward outstanding scientific contributions. The first is a 100,000 EGP award for distinguished scientific publication, and the second is a 50,000 EGP award recognizing the societal impact of a researcher’s work. These initiatives aim to promote a stronger culture of innovation and international academic presence.
The council also reviewed preparations for the university’s upcoming Artificial Intelligence Conference, scheduled to take place on October 18–19, and discussed progress on a campaign to enhance the visual identity of the campus.
Cairo University’s active participation in the 35th annual European Association for International Education (EAIE) Conference, held in Gothenburg, Sweden, was another point of discussion. The university delegation held talks with representatives from 45 global institutions, paving the way for new academic partnerships and research collaboration.
Several new agreements and memorandums of understanding were approved to deepen international engagement, including a cooperation protocol with Cairo National University, an MOU with the European Academy for Development and Research in Brussels, and a collaboration agreement with the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development. These agreements are designed to support capacity building, governance reform, sustainable development, and entrepreneurship.
Additional international agreements included:
- A renewed partnership between the Faculty of Arts and L’Orientale University in Naples, Italy
- A revised agreement between the Faculty of Engineering and the University of Naples Federico II
- A cooperation addendum between the Faculty of Economics and Political Science and the Arab Union for Digital Economy focused on developing digital education programs
- A renewed memorandum between the Faculty of Medicine (Qasr Al-Ainy) and Greifswald University in Germany
- A new MOU between the Faculty of Archaeology and the University of Houston in the United States
- A cooperation agreement between the Faculty of Agriculture and the Dr. Mira Foundation for the Revival of Egyptian Heritage and Community Development
The council also approved scholarships for students who achieved top-three placements in continental or international sports competitions. These awards aim to recognize student-athletes’ contributions to Egypt’s presence in global sporting arenas and promote excellence in extracurricular achievement.
The meeting included a review of the upcoming fall semester for the 2025/2026 academic year. Emphasis was placed on ensuring faculty presence from the first day of classes, closely monitoring student attendance in lectures and labs, and maintaining full operational readiness for the delivery of academic and student support services. The council also reiterated its commitment to providing health, cultural, sports, and social programs across the university’s various campuses.
In a step aligned with Egypt’s national digital transformation strategy, the council endorsed a directive from the Supreme Council of Universities supporting coordination with the Central Bank of Egypt. This initiative involves facilitating the opening of student bank accounts to comply with national legislation on non-cash payment systems, advancing the state’s vision of a less cash-reliant economy.
The council also confirmed several leadership appointments, including the selection of Dr. Mohamed Mohsen El-Attar as Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs at Cairo National University, the presidential appointment of Dr. Haitham Hamza as Dean of the Faculty of Computers and Artificial Intelligence, and Dr. Geraldine Ahmed as Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry.
Finally, the council approved the continuation of all necessary steps for establishing a branch of Cairo University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This ambitious project remains under review by the Ministry of Higher Education and is expected to further the university’s regional footprint.
