A S U

In an atmosphere filled with joy and pride, the Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences at Ain Shams University celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2026, marking the faculty’s 27th graduating class.

The ceremony was held under the patronage of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, and was inaugurated by Prof. Rasha Ismail, Dean of the Faculty, in the presence of Eng. Mahmoud Badawi, Assistant Minister of Communications and Information Technology for Digital Transformation; Prof. Essam Khalifa, Chairman of the Computer and Information Sciences Sector Committee at the Supreme Council of Universities and former Dean of the Faculty; Prof. Mohamed Roshdy, Chairman of the Promotions Committee at the Supreme Council of Universities and former Dean of the Faculty; Prof. Reem El-Kabarity, Director of the University's Alumni Association; Prof. Ahmed Rageh, Executive Dean at the University of East London (UEL); Eng. Asmaa Serag, Executive Director of Huawei ICT Academies in Egypt; Prof. Ahmed Hamad, President of Egypt University of Informatics; Prof. Nagwa Badr, President of the University of East London Branch at the European Universities in Egypt; and Prof. Omar Karam, Dean of the Faculty of Informatics and Computer Science at the British University in Egypt. The ceremony was also attended by the Faculty's Vice Deans, numerous faculty members, and a distinguished group of outstanding alumni.

Prof. Rasha Ismail began her opening remarks by expressing her happiness at the graduation of a new class of students. She congratulated the graduates' parents and families, describing them as true partners in this achievement through the support, care, and sacrifices they had provided throughout their years of study. She emphasized that they share in this success and have every right to take pride in their children's accomplishments.

She added that with the graduation of the 27th class, the faculty proudly presents Egypt with 585 male and female graduates specializing in computing and information technology. These graduates represent promising human capital equipped with knowledge, scientific expertise, and modern technological skills, enabling them to become active contributors to economic development and apply their expertise to advancing various sectors in which digital transformation and technological progress have become essential drivers of growth.

She emphasized the faculty’s commitment to keeping pace with rapid developments in technology and computer sciences by offering 10 distinguished specialized academic programs covering a broad range of modern fields, including Information Systems, Computer Science, Scientific Computing, Computer Systems, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, Multimedia, Robotics Computing, and Bioinformatics. These programs reflect the faculty’s dedication to developing its educational system and preparing qualified professionals for future careers who can keep pace with the accelerating technological revolution.

She also highlighted the faculty’s commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships with leading local and international technology companies and institutions. These partnerships provide students with valuable opportunities for practical training, direct engagement with industry professionals, and exposure to the latest technologies and applications. They also help connect academic knowledge with labor market requirements, enhancing students' readiness to compete in both local and international job markets.

Prof. Rasha Ismail expressed her pride in the outstanding performance of this graduating class, whose members demonstrated dedication, academic excellence, and creativity throughout their studies. She praised the remarkable achievements of the faculty’s students in numerous local and international scientific and technological competitions and events, where they secured leading positions and prestigious awards.

She urged the graduates to serve as ambassadors for their university, become distinguished representatives of its alumni, and emerge as leaders in their respective fields. She stressed the importance of lifelong learning, continuous professional development, and active participation in creating and advancing technology, encouraging them to make knowledge, creativity, and hard work their tools for contributing to Egypt's progress and serving humanity.

Concluding her remarks, she expressed her sincere gratitude and appreciation to the administration of Ain Shams University, headed by the University President, for its continuous support of the faculty and its commitment to developing the educational process and enhancing the quality of its graduates. She also thanked the Faculty's Vice Deans, department heads, faculty members, teaching assistants, and administrative staff for their dedication and sustained efforts in preparing and qualifying this distinguished group of graduates.

Eng. Mahmoud Badawi, Assistant Minister of Communications and Information Technology for Digital Transformation, began his speech by expressing his happiness and pride in returning to Ain Shams University, his alma mater, where he graduated from the Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences in 2005. He emphasized the University's profound influence on his academic and professional development, acknowledging that much of his career success was rooted in the knowledge and skills he acquired during his university years. He stressed the importance of reflecting on the university journey that had come to an end and recognizing the contributions of everyone who had played a role in it, including parents, family members, professors, and colleagues, while appreciating the support and encouragement they had provided.

Regarding the next stage of their lives, he explained that graduates have numerous professional paths and opportunities available to them, ranging from freelancing and employment in local and international organizations across various business sectors to entrepreneurship, innovation, and pursuing academic careers. He emphasized that these choices are neither permanent nor mutually exclusive, as graduates can move between different career paths according to their ambitions and available opportunities.

He stressed that technological advancement in software development, computing, and artificial intelligence never stops, and that the rapid changes taking place worldwide require graduates to continuously learn and develop their capabilities. He emphasized that the real challenge facing technology graduates should not be limited to using technology but should extend to creating and developing it. He noted that Egypt can only achieve its desired global position in technology by investing in the capabilities of Egyptian talent and preparing human resources capable of innovation and production. He added that ambitions should extend beyond employment within existing institutions to establishing Egyptian companies and organizations capable of producing and exporting competitive technological products to global markets, thereby supporting the national economy and strengthening Egypt's position in technology and industry. He concluded by congratulating the graduates and their families and wishing them a bright future and continued success.

For his part, Prof. Essam Khalifa, Chairman of the Computer and Information Sciences Sector Committee at the Supreme Council of Universities, praised the dedicated efforts of faculty members in preparing and qualifying generations capable of keeping pace with rapid technological developments. He emphasized that graduation does not mark the end of the learning journey but rather the beginning of a new phase requiring continuous knowledge acquisition, skills development, and close attention to emerging trends in this rapidly evolving field. He also pointed out that artificial intelligence has become a defining technology of the modern era and one of the most important drivers of the future, making it essential for graduates to prepare themselves to understand its applications, utilize its capabilities, and innovate through it.

Prof. Reem El-Kabarity, Director of the Ain Shams University Alumni Association, also addressed the ceremony, congratulating the graduates and emphasizing that graduation represents the beginning of a new phase of work, productivity, and innovation, requiring them to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired in serving society and their country.

She also highlighted the role of the University's Alumni Association in maintaining sustainable communication between the University and its graduates. She described the Association as a vital link connecting different generations of alumni and providing a range of services, including free training programs, seminars, and workshops to develop their skills, as well as internship and employment opportunities that support their professional careers and strengthen their lasting connection with their alma mater.

Prof. Ahmed Rageh, Executive Dean at the University of East London, welcomed graduates of the international specialized programs who had earned dual degrees in partnership with the University of East London (UEL). He expressed his pride and happiness at joining them on this occasion, emphasizing that their graduation was the culmination of years of dedication, commitment, and hard work, and that they had truly earned this moment of achievement. During his speech, he also highlighted the strength of the partnership between Ain Shams University and the University of East London (UEL), which has successfully established a distinguished model of cooperation based on shared values, common goals, and mutual ambition.

In her speech, Eng. Asmaa Serag, Executive Director of Huawei ICT Academies and a representative of the industrial sector, expressed her happiness at returning to Ain Shams University as one of its graduates. She praised the strategic partnership between Ain Shams University and Huawei, which began approximately five years ago and was among the pioneering partnerships aimed at strengthening cooperation between academia and industry. The partnership included establishing a training center within the University to connect academic education with industrial applications and prepare students for labor market requirements from the early stages of their studies. She emphasized that this partnership has enabled university students to participate annually in international technology competitions, where they have achieved leading positions and remarkable accomplishments. She particularly highlighted the excellence of students from the Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences at Ain Shams University who participated in international competitions in China, successfully representing both the University and Egypt on global award platforms and outperforming competitors from various countries, including nations leading the technology industry.

She concluded by thanking Ain Shams University for its continued support of this partnership and its contribution to preparing talented young professionals capable of representing Egypt with distinction internationally. She also expressed her pride in being a graduate of the University and congratulated the graduates and their families.

The ceremony also featured presentations by several distinguished and successful alumni of the faculty, including Eng. Mohamed Yacoub, who shared his professional experiences and highlighted the importance of continuous learning and career development. He discussed his transition from mobile application development to artificial intelligence and data science, and how he subsequently utilized this expertise to establish a company specializing in innovative technological solutions for the real estate sector, using virtual reality, virtual tours, augmented reality, and mixed reality technologies.

In their speeches, the graduates expressed their great happiness and pride in graduating from the Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences at Ain Shams University. They extended their sincere gratitude and appreciation to the University and Faculty administrations, faculty members, and teaching assistants for the knowledge, support, and guidance they had received throughout their studies. They emphasized that the knowledge, experience, and skills they had acquired would serve as a foundation for their professional futures and motivate them to continue pursuing success and excellence while contributing to their communities and country.

The ceremony concluded with the honoring of Eng. Mahmoud Badawi, Assistant Minister of Communications and Information Technology; Prof. Reem El-Kabarity, Director of the University's Alumni Association; Prof. Ahmed Rageh of the University of East London; Prof. Ahmed Hamad, President of Egypt University of Informatics; Prof. Nagwa Badr, President of the University of East London Branch at the European Universities in Egypt; Prof. Omar Karam, Dean of the Faculty of Informatics and Computer Science at the British University in Egypt; and Eng. Mohamed Yacoub.

Researchers who obtained master's and doctoral degrees during the year were also honored, along with the male and female graduates of the Class of 2026.

The attendees enjoyed musical performances presented by the Harmony Arabic Choir.