Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Meteini, President of the University, witnesses the opening of the Sixth Francophone Ministerial Conference in Egypt

Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El- Meteini, President of Ain Shams University, and Prof. Dr. Ghada Farouk, acting Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development, witnessed yesterday morning, Wednesday morning, the opening of the activities of the Sixth Francophone Ministerial Conference in Egypt, hosted by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi is the President of the Republic and is organized by the University Agency for Francophonie within the framework of the second edition of the International Week of Scientific Francophonie, which will be held in cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Egypt, from 25 to 28 October.

The conference was inaugurated by Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in the presence of Dr. Salim Khalbous, Dean of the University Agency for Francophonie, and Dr. Soren Campino, President of the Université de la Francophonie, with the participation of Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Health and Population, and Dr. Reda Hegazy, Minister of Education and Technical Education, and Dr. Mahmoud Esmat, Minister of Business Sector, a number of heads of Egyptian research institutes, centers and bodies, a group of officials of the University Agency for Francophonie, academics, and young participants from member states of the University of La Francophonie, leaders of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and a number of public figures.

Prof. Mustafa Refaat, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, and Dr. Ayman Farid, Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Employment also attended from Ain Shams University.

At the beginning of his speech, the minister welcomed the ministers of higher education and scientific research, presidents of universities and research bodies, officials of the University Agency for Francophonie, and the youth participating in the conference activities, stressing that the Arab Republic of Egypt’s hosting of the second edition of the International Week of Scientific Francophonie reflects the deep belief of the Egyptian political leadership in the value of science. And the related scientific research activities in various fields as a way to achieve the sustainable development that Egypt aspires to within the framework of our new republic.

Dr. Ashour pointed out that Egypt has taken knowledge of its broad concept of science, education and culture as a basic pillar of development, as it has been able to achieve a great leap in a number of higher education strategies, including: the expansion of the establishment of new private and private universities, as well as branches of international universities in the New Administrative Capital.

The minister stressed the Egyptian state's interest in technical education, which is an essential element for real development, and a main source for supplying the labor market with the trained and needed labor, which was represented in the establishment of new technological universities.

Dr. Ayman Ashour referred to the efforts made by the Arab Republic of Egypt to enhance more aspects of regional and international cooperation in a way that contributes to achieving its goals towards creating young people who enjoy the spirit of initiative and the ability to unleash their faculties in various fields of creativity and innovation in a way that enables them to face the current modern challenges and cross the locomotive of development, pointing out He pointed out that this comes from Egypt's awareness of the value and importance of science in facing emerging and successive global phenomena and problems such as: viral epidemics, climatic and environmental changes,

As well as the social and economic challenges facing the desired development process.

The Minister affirmed Egypt’s keenness to activate more aspects of close and continuous cooperation with the University Agency for Francophonie, as it represents the largest university network in the world that includes more than 1,000 universities at the level of 120 countries, which contributes to enriching the Egyptian university education and scientific research system, and supporting scientific and creative training. For young people, and arming them with skills of understanding, application and analysis, stressing that the interest in building the human being is the essence of Egyptian policies to reach a roadmap for a more competitive economy.

The Minister of Higher Education added that cooperation with the Francophone University Agency will contribute to launching an advanced process of university education based on solid foundations, as well as continuous communication with the agency's member universities. To ensure success in raising the levels of the university system, especially since the Agency, since its establishment in 1961, has been the first international multilateral entity that has taken knowledge as a main tool for progress and development, which deserves all appreciation and praise.

Also Dr. Ayman Ashour confirmed Egypt's interest in the distinguished initiative of the University Agency of Francophonie to dedicate an annual international week of scientific la Francophonie, especially the three activities that this week includes, beginning with "scientific diplomacy" that works to bridge the gap between academic scientific activity on the one hand, and the actual application of policies on the ground on the one hand. Others, ending with the organization of the "Francophone Youth Club and Forum", which is the first of its kind, and represents a realistic embodiment of the vision of the Arab Republic of Egypt towards launching and organizing forums for the world's youth.

The minister added that there are many aspects of Egyptian cooperation with the Francophone University Agency, pointing to the partnership in many fields of higher education, scientific research, technology and innovation, including the recent selection of the Francophone University Agency for Egypt; To be a center for the dissemination of French culture, through education, with Cairo University hosting the National Office of the Francophone University Agency in Egypt, and the Francophone Employability Center, with its multiple services for students in training, entrepreneurship, and improving their professional integration in the global labor market.

At the conclusion of his speech, the Minister thanked the scientists, researchers and innovators, especially the youth participating in the conference activities, as they are the continuous and continuous employers for the sake of advancing their countries. He also thanked everyone who contributed to organizing this unique event, wishing successful and fruitful activities.

In his speech, Dr. Soren Kimpiano, President of the Francophone University Agency, salutes the attendance of Egyptian government officials, the ministers, as well as guests from the ministers of higher education and representatives of the Francophone Agency to participate in this important event, which confirms the agency’s role as a network linking countries, an active dynamism in Egypt has its own character and the value of the scientific conference held as one of the events and activities that contribute to strengthening international cooperation relations between the members of the Agency, which the Agency aims to organize to support the spirit of innovation and innovation, and to gather Francophone scholarly figures for consultation and exchange of experiences, as well as encouraging scientific research and entrepreneurship, noting his happiness with the generous participation For students from 50 countries.

On his part, Dr. Salim Khalbous, Dean of the Francophone University Agency, thanked Egypt for hosting this event, as well as the President of the Republic, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, for his generous patronage. Egypt's commitment to cooperating with its international partners, Khalbous stressed that the agency's mission is to support and respect the plurality of cultures and languages, and to emphasize the universality of knowledge and science.

The Dean of the Agency mentioned to its constant interest in developing relations between universities and supporting cooperation between them in the fields of; Employing graduates, supporting the digitization of education, and developing scientific diplomacy, noting that this edition is witnessing several major events; It is the scientific conference, which brings together about 40 ministers of higher education and scientific research from the Francophone countries, pointing out that this broad participation expresses the commitment of all parties to cooperate to face the obstacles facing the Francophone.

A (Youth Conference), which aims to create a global network linking Francophone youth, is also organized, and a (Francophone Key Network) has been launched with the participation of hundreds of students.

Khalbous mentioned that the events also include organizing several workshops under the title (The Foundations of Scientific Francophonie), which includes more than 105 scientific experts, and aims to consult in the field of artificial intelligence, as well as discussing the development of the quality of Francophone scientific publishing, and holding discussions on the development of scientific francophone in Egypt.

Dr. Adel Abdel Ghaffar, Media Adviser and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, declared that the week’s activities include organizing workshops in various fields, including a workshop on the scientific activity of the Francophonie in Egypt, another for international meetings, and a workshop for the “Deans of the Francophonie” conference, as well as a workshop He worked on Francophone scientific exploration in international meetings, launching a global francophone network in the field of artificial intelligence, and a workshop on the dissemination of scientific research, in addition to holding a meeting with a number of university youth from the participating countries (the Francophone Youth Club), which is the first of its kind. Review the results of workshops for international meetings.

The official spokesman added that the establishment of the activities of the Francophonie Week, and before that Egypt joined the agency’s board of directors and allocated an office to the agency at Cairo University, coincides with the completion of the construction works of the House of Egypt in the university city in Paris, which effectively contributes to the dispatch of Egyptian scholars to French universities, by providing Accommodation for Egyptian students studying across the capital, Paris, for their stay and care throughout the duration of the missions, as well as to promote cooperation and support cultural, civilizational, and educational activity between the two countries.

It is worth noting that the AUF was established in 1961, and is one of the first university organizations in the world, with 1,000 member institutions from 118 countries. New skills for the comprehensive economic development of societies, and this week is the second of its kind, and the first week was previously held during September 2021 in Bucharest, and the agency’s vision and strategic plan from 2021 to 2025, is to develop scientific diplomacy and expand its base by supporting and strengthening The relations between the ministers of higher education in the member states, as well as the dissemination of the concept of scientific la Francophonie and the provision of the necessary tools to activate it.