Prof. Yomna Safwat:

• Faculties of Al-Alsun Have Never Been Mere Educational Institutions, but Rather One of the Key Pillars of Egypt’s Soft Power

• Major European Languages Continue to Maintain Their Standing, While Asian Languages Are Attracting Growing Interest

• Career Opportunities for Al-Alsun Graduates Extend Far Beyond Traditional Translation

Since the foundations of the “School of Al-Alsun” were laid by the pioneering Egyptian reformer and intellectual Rifa'a at-Tahtawi in 1835 as a cultural bridge for transferring knowledge between Arab culture and the wider world, the Faculty of Al-Alsun at Ain Shams University has maintained its standing as one of the long-established academic institutions specializing in languages, translation, and cultural studies.

Over the decades, the faculty has remained a top choice among high-achieving secondary school graduates, standing alongside other highly competitive faculties. This enduring appeal is rooted in its distinguished academic legacy, highly qualified faculty members, diverse programs, and continued commitment to keeping pace with contemporary developments and labor market needs.

In her first interview following the issuance of the presidential decree appointing her Dean of the Faculty of Al-Alsun at Ain Shams University, Prof. Yomna Safwat, Professor of French Language, emphasized that faculties of Al-Alsun have never been merely educational institutions, but rather one of the key pillars of Egypt’s soft power. Over the years, they have produced generations of translators, researchers, diplomats, and media professionals whose contributions have enriched various state institutions.

15 Academic Departments and 8 Special Programs

The Faculty of Al-Alsun at Ain Shams University comprises 15 academic departments covering a wide range of languages, including Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Semitic Languages (Hebrew), Czech, Islamic Oriental Languages (Turkish and Persian), African Languages (Swahili), and Portuguese.

The faculty also offers eight special programs, five of which focus on specialized translation in Chinese, Russian, Italian, Spanish, and German. In addition, it offers two programs in written and simultaneous interpreting in English and French, as well as a program in Arabic Language and Translation for Non-Native Speakers.

This academic structure provides students with a comprehensive approach to language study that goes beyond vocabulary and grammar to encompass literature, culture, history, and the practical use of language in translation, communication, media, and international relations.

Around 1,800 Students Enroll Annually

Prof. Yomna Safwat explained that approximately 1,800 students enroll in the faculty each year, while the total number of undergraduate students across its various programs, including international students, ranges between 8,000 and 9,000.

Around 700 faculty members teach at the faculty, including professors, associate professors, and lecturers, in addition to teaching assistants and other junior academic staff. Female students also outnumber their male counterparts.

Demand Shifts in Line with Labor Market Needs

The Faculty of Al-Alsun attracts strong student interest every year. However, some departments are more popular than others depending on employment prospects, labor market needs, and students’ interests. These trends also shift over time in response to changing societal needs and developments in the global economy.

The Dean noted that there is no significant difference between male and female students in their choice of departments. She added that major European languages continue to maintain their strong standing, while Asian languages are attracting growing interest as a result of global economic and cultural developments.

She explained that this trend reflects students’ increasing awareness of future requirements in an increasingly interconnected world and a more open global economy, while digital transformation has created new career opportunities that did not previously exist.

Language Is No Longer Just Vocabulary and Grammar

Prof. Yomna Safwat pointed out that what distinguishes the Faculty of Al-Alsun is its integrated specialization in languages, translation, and cultural studies. Students do not study a language merely as a set of vocabulary and grammatical rules; rather, they delve into its literature, culture, history, and various forms of practical use.

The faculty is also committed to integrating academic study with practical application through hands-on training, developing written and simultaneous interpreting skills, and utilizing modern technologies, including digital tools and computer-assisted translation technologies, in line with global developments in the field.

Career Opportunities Beyond Traditional Translation

With the expanding role of languages across different sectors, career opportunities for Al-Alsun graduates are no longer limited to traditional translation.

Graduates can pursue careers in written translation and simultaneous interpreting, education, media and journalism, public relations, tourism and aviation, and diplomacy, as well as in international organizations and multinational corporations.

Career paths also include international marketing, digital content creation, localization, digital platform management, and global communication services, in addition to freelance work through digital platforms.

These diverse fields reflect ongoing transformations in the labor market and the growing demand for professionals who can combine linguistic and cultural knowledge with practical skills and modern technologies.

Why Does Ain Shams Faculty of Al-Alsun Maintain Its Leading Position?

Prof. Yomna Safwat believes that the faculty’s enduring popularity among high-achieving secondary school graduates over many decades reflects the strong confidence it has earned. She stressed that genuine excellence is not based on a single factor, but rather on an integrated system encompassing academic quality, distinguished academic expertise, a long-standing legacy, and the ability to keep pace with contemporary requirements.

High-achieving students consistently seek institutions that provide a rigorous education, genuine opportunities for growth and development, and broad prospects after graduation. This is what distinguishes the Faculty of Al-Alsun as a specialized institution combining the study of language, literature, culture, and translation, with the goal of preparing graduates who possess linguistic proficiency, cultural awareness, and the ability to communicate with the world efficiently and professionally.

Al-Alsun… Soft Power Extending into the Future

Between the legacy of the “School of Al-Alsun,” founded by Rifa'a at-Tahtawi, and the evolving demands of the labor market, the Faculty of Al-Alsun at Ain Shams University continues to develop its academic and practical education system while preserving its long-standing specialization in languages, translation, and cultural studies.

As languages play an increasingly important role in the economy, media, international relations, and digital transformation, the faculty remains one of the institutions contributing to the preparation of generations capable of engaging with the world and pursuing diverse careers locally and internationally, further strengthening its role as one of the pillars of Egypt’s soft power.