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As part of Ain Shams University’s efforts to strengthen its leadership as the first Egyptian public university to establish a fully integrated Francophone center, Prof. Ghada Farouk, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development, and Prof. Rami Maher Ghali, Vice President for Education and Students, co-chaired the meeting of the Centre Universitaire de la francophonie at the university. The meeting was attended by members of the Center’s council from various faculties with a strong interest in Francophonie.

Prof. Ghada Farouk opened the session by presenting the project for establishing the Centre Universitaire de la francophonie, which aims to support academic and developmental cooperation, enhance scientific collaboration, and promote cultural exchange with French-speaking countries. The initiative is intended to expand opportunities for international cooperation, advance educational development, foster a culture of diversity, and contribute to improving the university’s international ranking.

She further noted that it was agreed to organize the work through specialized groups, including a Database Committee, a Marketing and Media Committee, a Strategic Development Committee, and a Researchers’ and Students’ Friends of the Center Club Committee.

For his part, Prof. Rami Maher Ghali praised the establishment of the Center, emphasizing that it aligns with a strategy of partnership and cooperation with the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie as one of Egypt’s key international partners in research and education. He highlighted Egypt’s strong commitment to supporting cooperation with Francophone countries in a manner that serves Arab and African nations, within the framework of Egypt’s leading cultural and educational role in the region.

The meeting aimed to develop a roadmap for launching a digital platform for the Center to support academic and developmental collaboration, establish strategic partnerships with French-speaking educational institutions and companies, advance French-language education, and open new international horizons for cultural and scientific exchange, in addition to promoting the services offered by the Center to its members.

During the meeting, Dr. Islam Ezzat, Assistant Lecturer at the Faculty of Archaeology, delivered a presentation highlighting details of the Next Med–EUSEEDS Projects and Grants, which focus on empowering graduates and developing their digital and entrepreneurial skills. He also reviewed the Interreg NextMed program and introduced the grant-winning project for the 2021–2025 cycle, titled “ENroot.”

The meeting concluded with a discussion of the Center’s implementation plan and the need to unify application and selection mechanisms through the electronic platform. Prof. Ghada Farouk stressed the importance of clearly defining target groups, namely Francophone-speaking entrepreneurs, students, graduates, and faculty members, as well as preparing a comprehensive database of schools and interested institutions. A proposal was also made to organize a French cultural day to enhance the Center’s societal and cultural impact.

The meeting was attended by Assoc. Prof. Islam Mohamed Ezzat, Head of the Strategic Development and Financial Resources Committee; Assoc. Prof. Maha Abdel Aziz Alouwa, Head of the Researchers’ and Students’ Friends of the Center Club Committee; Assoc. Prof. Dalia Ahmed Diaa El-Din, Head of the Media and Marketing Committee; Dr. Nermeen Victor Fares, Head of the Platform and Database Committee; and Dr. Nadia Nagi Shama, Head of the International Relations Committee.