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The Spanish Language Department at the Faculty of Al-Alsun, Ain Shams University, organized its Alumni Day activities for the 2026–2027 academic year under the patronage of Prof. Youmna Safwat, Dean of the Faculty, in coordination with the Community Service and Environmental Development Sector, the Faculty’s Alumni Follow-up and Career Training Unit, and the University Alumni Association. The event was held under the supervision of Prof. Rehab Abdel Salam, Head of the Spanish Language Department, at the Faculty’s Conference Hall. It aimed to strengthen communication between graduates from different classes and current students, provide opportunities to exchange academic, professional, and personal experiences, and highlight success stories across various fields of employment.

Prof. Rehab Abdel Salam, Head of the Department, inaugurated the event, expressing her pleasure at meeting the Department’s graduates and students. She emphasized the importance of Alumni Day as a recurring opportunity to strengthen connections between generations and benefit from graduates’ professional and personal experiences, helping students shape their academic and career futures. She also welcomed the guests, faculty staff, teaching assistants, students, and alumni.

The event featured a series of student performances and presentations reflecting a strong sense of belonging to the Department and pride in memories of university life. These included an introductory video highlighting Alumni Day and its significance, as well as a video entitled “Reviving Memories,” which used artificial intelligence technologies to recreate images of the Department’s graduates from previous years. A Spanish-language poem entitled “Gates of Memories,” written by Mai Amr, Assistant Lecturer at the Department, was also recited. Students from the Specialized Translation Program presented a theatrical performance entitled “A Passing Word,” exploring differences in word meanings across the various dialects spoken in Spanish-speaking countries.

The program also included a screening of the short film “The Journey,” which portrayed the dedication and perseverance involved in the educational journey from enrollment to graduation. Another segment featured a poetry recital entitled “The Sun of Al-Andalus,” delivered by a female student who expressed her pride in Al-Andalus during the flourishing period of Arab civilization.

As part of efforts to strengthen communication between graduates and students, the event featured a seminar entitled “Mirror of the Future,” moderated by Prof. Rehab Abdel Salam, Head of the Department. The seminar brought together a distinguished group of alumni who had achieved notable success in tourism, antiquities, telecommunications, diplomacy, and information accessibility. They shared their professional experiences and offered students valuable insights and advice on labor market requirements and the career paths available to Spanish language graduates.

Among the seminar participants was Ms. Youmna Osama Mohamed Farid El-Bahar, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, who shared her personal and professional journey, from her years as a student in the Spanish Language Department to her appointment as Deputy Minister of Tourism and Antiquities. She highlighted key milestones that shaped her career, the experiences and lessons she gained along the way, and the importance of learning from different experiences to build a successful professional career.

Mr. Salah Atris Abdullah, Chairman of Talento Travel, discussed the diverse career opportunities available in the tourism sector and how Spanish language graduates can benefit from them. He outlined the essential skills required to work in this field and offered practical advice and guidance to students and graduates seeking to enter the industry and build successful careers.

Mr. Mohamed Said Ahmed Habib, Reservations and Aviation Department Manager at Xceed, discussed the nature of work in the telecommunications sector and the career opportunities it offers. He emphasized the importance of acquiring the skills needed to meet labor market demands and leveraging Spanish language studies to develop professional capabilities and open new employment opportunities.

Ms. Seham Fouad Hussein Hazeen, Assistant Consul at the Embassy of Mexico in Cairo, shared her experience in diplomatic work, highlighting the nature of employment at embassies and the skills and experience required to pursue a career in this field. She also stressed the importance of foreign language proficiency, effective communication skills, and the ability to interact with people from different cultural backgrounds.

Ms. Yasmeen Mohamed Youssef Ibrahim, Information Accessibility Expert and Trainer for Persons with Disabilities, shared her professional experience, explaining how studying Spanish had opened career opportunities in libraries and information accessibility. She highlighted the importance of using languages to provide information services to persons with disabilities, make content accessible, and enhance communication in Arabic, Spanish, and English, thereby supporting everyone's right to access knowledge and promoting the principles of inclusion.

The event continued with a segment entitled “Inspiring Experiences,” during which several alumni shared their academic and professional journeys after graduation. Participants included Manar Mahmoud, a 2019 graduate and interpreter and translator at the Embassy of Peru; Mahmoud Yacoub, a 2015 graduate and Project Manager at Vodafone; Mamdouh Youssef, a 2008 graduate specializing in data analysis and artificial intelligence; and Ahmed Samir, a 2011 graduate specializing in human resources.

The event concluded with remarks by Prof. Rehab Abdel Salam, Head of the Department, who expressed sincere gratitude and appreciation to the guests for sharing their expertise and successful professional experiences. She also thanked the students who contributed to organizing the event and honored the seminar guests by presenting them with certificates of appreciation in recognition of their participation and valuable contributions to the event.

The organization of Alumni Day reflects the Spanish Language Department’s commitment to maintaining strong ties with its graduates, strengthening connections between generations, and highlighting the diverse career opportunities offered by studying Spanish. These efforts aim to prepare students for labor market requirements, enable them to benefit from alumni experiences, and foster a stronger sense of belonging to the Department, Faculty, and University.