A S U

Prof. Youmna Safwat, Dean of the Faculty of Al-Alsun at Ain Shams University, received Prof. Aldin Mutembei, Dean of the Institute of Kiswahili Studies at the University of Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania, to explore prospects for academic and cultural cooperation between the two institutions and enhance the exchange of expertise in foreign language teaching and the study of their literature and cultures.

The meeting was attended by Prof. Omaima Khashaba, Acting Head of the Department of African Languages at the Faculty; Assistant Lecturer Mohamed Yousry, Assistant Lecturer in Swahili Literature at the Department, who is currently on a study mission in the United Republic of Tanzania to pursue his PhD; and Assistant Lecturer Sayed Farid, Assistant Lecturer in Swahili Literature at the Department.

The meeting addressed ways to build bridges of communication between peoples and cultures and strengthen academic and cultural dialogue between Egypt and Tanzania through foreign language education and greater awareness of their literature and cultures, thereby supporting the distinguished relations between the two countries. The two sides also discussed several proposed areas for a cooperation agreement between the Faculty of Al-Alsun at Ain Shams University and the Institute of Kiswahili Studies at the University of Dar es Salaam.

Among the proposed areas of cooperation discussed was the possibility of sending outstanding undergraduate students to the United Republic of Tanzania for study during the summer semester, with the aim of studying Swahili, enhancing their language skills, and gaining first-hand insight into Tanzanian culture and society.

The two sides also explored the possibility of inviting lecturers from the University of Dar es Salaam to teach at the Department of African Languages at the Faculty of Al-Alsun.

For her part, Prof. Youmna Safwat, Dean of the Faculty of Al-Alsun, expressed her pleasure at the visit and emphasized the faculty’s aspiration to build stronger channels of communication and cooperation with the Institute of Kiswahili Studies at the University of Dar es Salaam. She also affirmed the faculty’s commitment to strengthening its academic and cultural ties with the United Republic of Tanzania in a way that contributes to expanding scientific cooperation and promoting cultural exchange between the two countries.

For his part, Prof. Aldin Mutembei expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome and affirmed his commitment to moving forward with the procedures required to conclude the cooperation agreement between the two sides, paving the way for new opportunities for academic cooperation and the exchange of expertise.

He also thanked the Dean of the Faculty for the commemorative gifts presented to him. In return, he donated three Swahili-language books to the Department of African Languages at the Faculty.