Mansoura University President Participates in the General Conference of the Association of Arab Universities in Kuwait

Prof. Cherif Khater, President of Mansoura University, participated in the 57th General Conference of the Association of Arab Universities, hosted by the International University in Kuwait from April 23 to 24, 2025. The conference was attended by Prof. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; Prof. Amr Ezzat Salama, Secretary-General of the Association of Arab Universities; and Prof. Abdul Majeed Ben Amara, Secretary-General of the Federation of Arab Scientific Research Councils. Participants included a number of presidents of Arab and Egyptian universities, and a group of academics and higher education specialists from various Arab countries.

Prof. Cherif Khater expressed his pleasure at participating in this important Arab academic event, emphasizing the importance of the conference as a strategic platform for enhancing cooperation between Arab universities and exchanging expertise in the fields of education and scientific research, contributing to the development and advancement of the higher education system at the regional level. He explained that the conference represents an opportunity to address the challenges facing Arab higher education in light of the accelerating digital transformation, present future visions for improving the quality of educational outcomes, and enhance the role of universities in innovation and sustainable development.

 During the opening ceremony, Prof. Amr Ezzat Salama reviewed the most prominent achievements of the Association's strategic plan (2020–2030), which resulted from the joint efforts of Arab universities and local and international institutions and organizations concerned with academic affairs. In a related context, the Association of Arab Universities honored Prof. Ayman Ashour in recognition of the efforts of the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and the Egyptian state's support for Arab academic cooperation.

During the session, it was also announced that an Egyptian student won the Best Master's Thesis Award, and that three Egyptian researchers won the Yousef bin Saeed Lootah Award for Young Researchers, highlighting Egyptian scientific excellence at the Arab level. The conference, held under the theme "Arab Higher Education in the Light of Digital Transformation and Promoting Regional Integration," discussed several strategic themes, including improving the quality of educational outcomes, strengthening research partnerships between universities, and developing curricula to meet the requirements of the Arab labor market.

On the sidelines of the event, three high-level dialogue sessions were held, addressing key issues in the development of Arab higher education. The first session discussed the services of the Arab Knowledge Bank and the experience of an Egyptian university in utilizing it. It also included the signing of a cooperation agreement with the Association of Arab Universities, with the participation of educational leaders from Egypt and the region. The second session focused on the "Arab Higher Education Zone" initiative, presenting a roadmap for its implementation, its objectives, and mechanisms, drawing on successful international models for establishing joint education zones. The third session addressed support for Palestinian universities by discussing a cooperation agreement with the Palestinian Ministry of Education, establishing a funding fund to support higher education institutions, providing scholarships, and conducting joint research projects. The sessions witnessed a fruitful exchange of ideas and experiences, reflecting the serious drive toward building a more integrated and innovative higher education system in the Arab world. The conference serves as an important platform for discussing the most prominent challenges and opportunities in higher education in the Arab world, including the Global Higher Education Zone initiative. It also contributes to enhancing academic integration and cooperation among Arab universities.