A S U

The specialized phase of the Children's University Program at Ain Shams University, for the ninth and tenth cohorts, officially commenced yesterday. The program will run over a two-week period from July 19 to July 30 and is being hosted by the Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences under the patronage of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University; Prof. Mamdouh Moawad, President of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT); Prof. Amany Osama Kamel, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research; Prof. Rasha Ismail, Dean of the Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences; Prof. Shereen Radi, Vice Dean for Community Service and Environmental Development; and Dr. Rana Refaie, Executive Director of the Children's University Program at ASRT.

The program is implemented under the coordination and supervision of Dr. Noha El-Rafie, Deputy Director of the Grants and Projects Administration at the International Relations and Academic Cooperation Sector and Ain Shams University Coordinator of the Children's University Program, in collaboration with Dr. Mona Abdel Azim, the program coordinator at the Faculty of Computers and Information.

Prof. Rasha Ismail expressed her delight at the strong interest shown by children in the field of computer and information sciences, emphasizing that it is one of the most significant disciplines in the digital era. She noted that the program provides young participants with valuable opportunities to discover and develop their scientific and intellectual potential while equipping them with the digital skills needed to meet the demands of the future and the evolving labor market.

For her part, Dr. Noha El-Rafie welcomed the participating students and their parents, expressing her pleasure at the launch of the specialized phase, which enables children to explore diverse and advanced scientific disciplines. She affirmed Ain Shams University's commitment to supporting the Children's University Program as part of its societal mission to nurture a new generation of scientists and innovators by fostering scientific research and creativity from an early age through an integrated educational and training environment.

She further explained that the Grants and Projects Administration at the International Relations and Academic Cooperation Sector plays a pivotal role in managing the program's administrative, financial, and logistical aspects while maintaining continuous coordination with the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology and the University's faculties to ensure implementation in accordance with the highest standards of quality and efficiency, thereby maximizing benefits for participants.

Dr. El-Rafie added that the program, implemented under the supervision of Dr. Mona Abdel Azim, follows an organizational plan centered on hands-on learning. Approximately 100 children have been divided into four training groups supervised by faculty members, teaching assistants, and student volunteers, allowing each participant to engage in practical activities and direct interaction within the computer laboratories.

She also stressed that Ain Shams University places great importance on providing a safe educational environment for children. Throughout the program, the Grants and Projects Administration, in cooperation with the Faculty of Computers and Information, closely monitors all activities and oversees organizational and logistical arrangements to ensure a distinguished educational and training experience that fulfills the program's objectives of enhancing children's skills and inspiring their passion for science and technology.

The Children's University Program is one of Egypt's leading national initiatives launched by the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology in partnership with Egyptian universities. It aims to develop children's scientific and creative capabilities while instilling a culture of scientific research and innovation from an early age. Through an interactive university-based learning experience that includes lectures, hands-on workshops, and practical experiments, the program enables children to explore a wide range of scientific disciplines, discover their talents, strengthen critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and prepare for the challenges of the future as active contributors to a knowledge-based society.