Prof. Ghada Farouk, Acting President of Ain Shams University

Youm7 website published a lengthy interview with Prof. Ghada Farouk, Vice President of Ain Shams University for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs, who is the first woman to hold the position of Vice President of Ain Shams University since the establishment of Ain Shams University in 1950, during which she spoke about the most important development plans at the university at the present time, and the dialogue was as follows:

Firstly, tell us about the construction and development plan at Ain Shams University.

The wheel of development at Ain Shams University does not stop. We are continuing the work of development and renewal. Recently, we have developed a group of auditoriums in various faculties, including Arts, Law, and Sciences, and the auditoriums that have undergone development include large auditoriums that can accommodate large numbers of students.

Among the development works that Ain Shams University witnessed was the completion of the inauguration of the laboratory complex at the Faculty of Science, which will serve thousands of students and serve scientific research, in addition to the inauguration of the nanotechnology building. Ain Shams University was seeking to have a building in this specialty, which is considered one of the most important specializations and important for practical research in various fields. The building is in the final stage of finishing and will serve all specializations. Its role will be based on supporting scientific research in the field of nanotechnology and supporting joint cross-disciplinary research.

What about the Faculty of Mass Communication that was opened and received students from the past?

Indeed, we recently opened the Faculty of Mass Communication and are preparing to accept the second batch of students this year. The faculty is equipped to the highest standard and includes television filming studios and sound studios to create a suitable educational environment for students.

Ain Shams University has undergone huge development in the past period in terms of the educational environment and the development of the main campus. How important is this development?

At Ain Shams University, we paid attention to the educational environment for students to be comfortable, stimulating, and encouraging to be present and feel happy, which came through the development of the main campus of Ain Shams University at the highest level, as well as the use of cheerful colors in the stands with the help of planning professors at the Faculty of Engineering to stimulate creativity among students.

Currently, work is underway to complete a new building for the Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences, which will be considered an extension of the existing building, which is currently under construction. It will be implemented in accordance with the highest systems for sustainability and green buildings, and implemented in accordance with the standards for green buildings.

Emphasized that in all new buildings at Ain Shams University, we seek to reduce energy and carbon emissions and comply with green building standards in preparation for Ain Shams University to be the first green university.

What about the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and when will its building be completed?

The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine received the first batch last year and is preparing this year to receive the second batch. Work is currently underway to inaugurate a special building for the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine on the campus of the Faculty of Agriculture, and it is scheduled to be completed within 9 months.

How did Ain Shams University pay attention to the needs of the labor market? Why did the university launch a large package of distinguished programs in various faculties? Is there a plan to add other faculties?

The university has already paid attention to the needs and requirements of the labor market, and from there, we have launched new and distinctive programs in various faculties that serve and meet the needs of the labor market within the framework of the state’s plan.

We recently added to Ain Shams University 3 new faculties of Mass Communication, Veterinary Medicine, and Archaeology. We do not have a plan to add new faculties at the present time, but we seek to develop new programs that meet the needs and requirements of the labor market, including, for example, new programs in faculties of engineering and programs for renewable energy and mechatronics. Our goal is to The end result is a graduate capable of competing in the local and global market.

What about the security system and its preparations for the new academic year?

Ain Shams University always seeks to provide a safe environment for its students. This is done through electronic gates and magnetic cards to facilitate students’ easy entry, work automation, and the implementation of a greatly developed integrated digital system that does not only include students and professors but also includes administrative aspects.

Recently, the Portuguese language was introduced to the Faculty of Al-Alsun to join the various languages present in the faculty. Is there a plan to introduce new languages in the coming period?

The Faculty of Al-Alsun is one of the distinguished faculties that includes many of the world’s languages, including oriental languages such as Chinese, Japanese, Russian, German, and Italian. The faculty plays an important role in translation at the highest level in the country. There is a request from Indonesia to teach the Arabic language to non-native speakers, they asked to explore the possibility of introducing the Indonesian language, but we are keen that before starting to open any new language, a study is conducted on the extent of the labor market’s need for it and the possibility of seeking assistance from faculty staff from the mother country of this language.

Ain Shams University plays a very important community role through convoys of development and awareness campaigns. Tell us about the community's role and the university’s plan for medical convoys to villages and hamlets.

Ain Shams University is keen to play a societal role in serving the surrounding areas, villages, and hamlets through comprehensive development convoys, studies of the surrounding slum areas, and a group of studies to establish the visual identity to inform the surrounding community of the importance of the visual value of the existing archaeological buildings, and many initiatives to go green and participate and cooperate to achieve a better life.

The convoys are prepared according to clear plans for remote areas. Comprehensive development convoys are implemented, including medical services, awareness campaigns, literacy classes, and awareness and entertainment programs for children. Among these convoys, for example, is the Halayeb and Shalateen convoy, which is organized twice a year by an integrated team. We also organize convoys in Beheira, Fayoum, and other surrounding areas, alternatives to slums such as Mahrousa and Asmarat.

We have a very important project in which we began with a tripartite agreement with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, represented by selecting a village in Sohag to study its needs and monitor its problems. We are currently developing a plan to transform it into a model village through the concerted efforts of various efforts.

What about the role that Ain Shams University plays in the national projects implemented by the state?

Firstly, I would like to emphasize that President Sisi has created a breakthrough at various levels through unprecedented national projects in the fields of infrastructure, agricultural projects, and the road network, in addition to projects that would focus on building the Egyptian human being, such as the Decent Life Initiative, which is one of the great initiatives that have a great impact, and the Family Development Project.

Ain Shams University, as a university entity or through its expert consultants, provides consultations to the state on national projects and initiatives such as the Decent Life Project, the New Delta Project, and the Agriculture and Land Reclamation Project in Toshka, in addition to the university’s role in health initiatives such as the Plasma and Awareness Project and the Waiting Lists Elimination Project, and other health initiatives in which Ain Shams University participates.

What has happened at Ain Shams National University so far?

Ain Shams National University will be established on the land of the new university, south of the Administrative Capital. Currently, construction work is in full swing, and studies are expected to begin there in 2024-2025. It will be built on the latest systems to be a model of a modern private governmental university that competes with the largest international universities and will also be a green university.

Finally, tell us about your dream for Ain Shams University.

We are in a stage of local and global competition accompanied by rapid change in the era of technology, changing market needs, and the emergence of artificial intelligence. We face two challenges: to compete locally and internationally. Five years ago, we were among 1,500 universities, and now we have advanced to 700, and some of the specializations in the Faculty of Engineering are among the best at the level of engineering faculties around the world. I dream that we will continue this progress in various classifications.

As we head into a new academic year, what is your message and advice to students?

I say to any of our students, male and female, choose a specialization according to your inclinations, and you must keep your eyes on the local and international market and what it demands.

Finally, being the first woman to hold the position of Vice President of Ain Shams University? What does this mean to you?

I am honored to be in this position, and being the first woman to hold the position of Vice President of the University at Ain Shams University represents a great challenge, and have a strong desire to achieve success that gives more opportunities for women to assume such a position.

Confirmed that women in Egypt have recently held leadership positions for the first time, and I have never thought that there would be discrimination because I am a woman, and have always been certain that a person’s hard work and doing what he has to do with all his ability is the standard, and not being a man or a woman.