With the participation of Ain Shams University... Launching the activities of the Youth for Development initiative in cooperation between the Ministries of Higher Education and Planning

In implementation of the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the President of the Republic, to develop youth awareness, the activities of the Youth for Development Initiative were launched in cooperation between the Ministries of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Planning and Economic Development, and the Supreme Council of Universities; This is with the aim of raising university youth’s awareness of the sustainable development goals and the Human Development Report Egypt 2021, and opening continuous channels of communication with young people to support and encourage them.

The initiative was implemented in its first phase for the academic year 2021-2022 at universities: (Cairo, Ain Shams, Beni Suef, Mansoura, Port Said), by organizing training workshops and introductory seminars for university youth and participating researchers, in cooperation with the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, in addition to the various events in the participating universities. The participants were divided into groups of research teams, which are trained in order to compete in providing innovative solutions represented in policy papers and development projects; To contribute to providing solutions to national or local issues.

The final proposals of the research teams will be evaluated by a supreme jury of professors and experts; To announce the winning teams for each of the initiatives’ axes at the national level in a major celebration to be organized in the first week of July, coinciding with the country’s celebrations of the June 30 revolution.

The presidents of the concerned universities and their deputies participated in the initiative's activities, and Dr. Mohammed Alaa, coordinator of the initiative at the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, and Dr. Dalia Sami, coordinator of the initiative at the Supreme Council of Universities, and the work team of coordinators of the participating universities.

It is worth noting that the results of the internal qualifiers for development projects and policy papers were announced, where the best 3 teams were selected for each of the development projects and policy papers in each university, and all participants were honored in ceremonies in the presence of university presidents and their deputies.

The internal arbitration committees were selected from a selection of distinguished professors in the participating universities in various disciplines. The evaluation criteria included the following: Linking to the sustainable development goals (Egypt Vision 2030), and that the projects be linked to current issues, whether at the national or local level, as well as providing the best International practices and their adaptation in line with the Egyptian reality, applicability (financial and human capacities), and presentation. The total of development projects and policy papers of the participating universities amounted to 61 projects and policy papers.

The results of the semi-final qualifiers stage for the participating universities were also announced, and the winning teams were honored by the university presidents and their deputies. 3 teams were promoted in each axis from each university. The participating development projects focused on several axes, including: economic and social empowerment of women, and environmentally friendly projects, Supporting the health system, and innovations to improve public service (governance issues, combating corruption and improving public services). The policy papers also included several axes: preparing qualified teachers for the education reform strategy, developing awareness of issues of organizing and developing the Egyptian family, improving public services and combating corruption, and reforming the care administration. health.

The final stage for this year, the final qualifying stage, also began with the training of 29 teams that won the first three places in each axis of the five universities, through a selection of academic professors and experts, and preparations are currently underway for the final qualifiers to choose the best ideas and initiatives that serve the Egyptian state in a better, effective and new way, with the participation of distinguished university youth from Egyptian universities.