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The Faculty of Al-Alsun, Ain Shams University, organized an orientation session for its new programs under the patronage of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of the University, and Prof. Salwa Rashad, Dean of the Faculty, with the supervision of Prof. Hala Sayed, Vice Dean for Education and Student Affairs, Prof. Yomna Safwat, Vice Dean for Community Service and Environmental Development, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yasmine Mahmoud, General Coordinator of Programs at the Faculty. The event was attended by several department heads, faculty members, and teaching assistants, and witnessed wide participation from high school graduates and equivalent certificate holders interested in joining these programs.

Prof. Salwa Rashad, Dean of the Faculty, opened the event with a welcoming speech in which she expressed her happiness at the students’ start of a new stage in their academic journey. She emphasized that since Rifaa Rafi’ Al-Tahtawi, pioneer of the Egyptian renaissance, laid the foundations of the Al-Alsun School of Languages in the 19th century, the faculty has continued for nearly two centuries to lead in language education and in transferring sciences and cultures between nations.

Today, the Faculty of Al-Alsun at Ain Shams University reaffirms this historical role with its new credit-hour programs designed to meet the needs of local, regional, and international labor markets.

She also highlighted the faculty’s ongoing efforts to develop its academic programs, noting that 14 programs have been accredited by the National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Education, in addition to international partnerships that provide opportunities for student exchange, training abroad, and postgraduate studies through the Advanced Program in Translation and Translation Technology.

In her address, Prof. Hala Sayed, Vice Dean for Education and Student Affairs, explained the efforts made to provide a supportive educational environment for students, pointing to the role of student support and academic advising units, the measurement and evaluation unit, and the e-learning unit in offering comprehensive services that enhance student experience.

Prof. Yomna Safwat, Vice Dean for Community Service and Environmental Development, stressed that the mission of the faculty extends beyond academics to serving the community through literacy programs, field training, job fairs, charitable convoys, and awareness seminars.

Assoc. Prof. Yasmine Mahmoud, General Coordinator of Programs, reviewed the features of the credit-hour programs, noting their modern infrastructure, including well-equipped classrooms, audio labs, computer labs, and electronic examination halls. She added that foreign experts participate in teaching under international cooperation agreements and that training opportunities are offered at the United Nations headquarters, qualifying students to meet labor market demands.

The academic departments then presented their new programs:

English Translation and Interpretation Program: Assoc. Prof. Fayrouz Fouad, Acting Head of the English Department, explained that the program focuses on preparing professional translators, providing distinguished training at the United Nations headquarters, and field training at major institutions. Students also excel in screen translation and advanced research projects.

French Translation and Interpretation Program: Prof. Rania Adel, Head of the French Department, highlighted that the program offers practice-oriented courses aligned with market needs and provides field training in prestigious institutions, with targeted training opportunities in collaboration with the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie.

Italian Specialized Translation Program: Prof. Dalia Gamal, Head of the Italian Department, noted that the program involves Italian experts in teaching and offers international training opportunities through partnerships with leading Italian universities, qualifying students for diverse careers both locally and abroad.

Russian Specialized Translation Program: Prof. Dina Mohamed Abdo, Head of the Russian Department, emphasized that the program belongs to the oldest Russian language department in the Arab world, with a strong focus on practical training. Graduates are well-prepared to work in major projects such as the Dabaa Nuclear Plant and the Russian Industrial Zone, as well as in tourism, communications, and specialized officer training.

Spanish Specialized Translation Program: Prof. Rehab Abdel Salam, Head of the Spanish Department, described the program’s advantages, which include preparing students to communicate with the Spanish-speaking world, offering up-to-date curricula aligned with market trends, enhancing speaking and writing skills with native lecturers, and providing student exchange opportunities through agreements with top Spanish universities.

German Specialized Translation Program: Prof. Nahla Nagy, Head of the German Department, highlighted the program’s combination of heritage and innovation, with specialized courses tailored to labor market needs. She pointed to cooperation with DAAD, which offers summer study scholarships abroad, and the Goethe-Institut, which provides training opportunities for students.

Chinese Specialized Translation Program: Dr. Esraa Bayoumi, Lecturer at the Chinese Department, stressed the global importance of Chinese, noting that the program offers modern curricula taught by native speakers and allows students to participate in study camps in China in collaboration with the Confucius Institute, enriching their linguistic and cultural skills.

Following the general orientation, separate sessions were held for each program targeting early applicants, giving them the opportunity to gain direct and detailed insight into the structure and requirements of their chosen program.

This orientation event comes as part of the faculty’s preparations for the 2025/2026 academic year, as Al-Alsun begins welcoming high school graduates interested in enrolling in the new credit-hour programs starting Sunday, August 24, 2025.

These programs adopt a modern approach that reinforces Al-Alsun’s status as a prestigious academic institution that combines heritage and innovation, preparing its graduates to compete strongly in local, regional, and international labor markets.