A S U

Ain Shams University has achieved a new literary milestone, adding to its record of cultural excellence, as Prof. Mohamed Abdel Salam Kamel Abu Khozam, Professor in the Department of Arabic Language and Literature at the Faculty of Women, won the award for his short story “The Impossible Hope,” and Prof. Gehan Farouk Fouad, Professor in the Department of English Language and Literature at the same faculty, won for her critical essay “Silenced Feminist Creativity in the Works of Salwa Bakr and Alice Walker.” This achievement comes within the framework of the Ihsan Abdel Quddous Award, reflecting the advanced standing that the University continues to consolidate in the field of literary creativity.

The Ihsan Abdel Quddous Award is considered one of Egypt’s most prominent annual literary awards. It is organized by the Ihsan Abdel Quddous Cultural Salon in cooperation with leading cultural institutions, including the Egyptian Writers’ Union, under the supervision of the eminent critic Prof. Youssef Noufal. The award aims to preserve the legacy of the great writer Ihsan Abdel Quddous, support literary talent, and invigorate cultural life through alternating categories between short story and critical essay, with financial prizes and certificates of appreciation granted to the winners.

Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, Prof. Amany Osama Kamel, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research, and the University’s Awards Office extended their sincere congratulations to the winners, affirming that this achievement reflects the scientific and literary distinction of the University’s faculty members and embodies Ain Shams University’s leadership and competitiveness in prestigious cultural forums.

Prof. Mohamed Abdel Salam Abu Khozam is regarded as one of the most distinguished academic figures, having received numerous scientific and literary awards, including the Abdul Hameed Shoman Award for Arab Researchers, the State Encouragement Award, and the Shawky Al-Fangary Award. He has supervised and examined more than 180 master’s and doctoral theses, participated in the promotion of over 100 scholars to the rank of professor, reviewed more than 200 peer-reviewed research papers, and authored over 60 books and refereed studies published nationally and internationally.

Prof. Gehan Farouk Fouad is likewise a prominent academic in the fields of English literature and comparative literature. She has an outstanding record of peer-reviewed research and articles published in Arabic and English, has contributed extensively to academic supervision and research review, served on editorial boards of several scholarly journals, and actively participated in local and international academic conferences. She has also served as Head of the Department of English Language and Literature at the Faculty of Women, in addition to her influential role in translation, academic training, and the adjudication of translation awards.

This recognition underscores Ain Shams University’s pioneering role in supporting literary and creative endeavors and reinforcing its position as a leading academic and cultural beacon that nurtures creative faculty staff and provides a stimulating environment for intellectual and scholarly production—thereby enriching the Egyptian and Arab cultural landscape and strengthening the University’s academic presence at both regional and international levels.