Dr. Ahmed El-Kased, President of Menoufia University, participated in the periodic meeting of the Supreme Council of Universities, headed by Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and attended by Dr. Mustafa Refaat, Secretary of the Council, and members of the Council, at the headquarters of Sohag University.

El-Kased explained that the Minister of Higher Education directed at the beginning of the meeting the importance of universities' preparation for the first semester exams for the academic year 2024/2025, and the regularity of faculty members, auxiliary staff and the administrative apparatus throughout the exam period; to ensure the regularity of exams at universities and institutes.
Dr. Ayman Ashour praised the various and regular efforts of universities in implementing the presidential initiative "A New Beginning for Building the Human Being", as universities launched many development convoys in various parts of the Republic to serve citizens, in order to activate the role of universities in serving society and developing the environment at the level of all governorates.
The Minister directed to intensify the community participation of universities in cooperation with the "Decent Life" initiative, by launching integrated convoys, organizing educational seminars, events and various activities, and increasing the efforts of universities in eradicating illiteracy in cooperation with the General Authority for Adult Education, activating the role of universities in serving society and developing the environment. The Minister also stressed the Ministry's orientation towards internationalizing the "Alliance and Development" initiative by expanding international partnerships with a number of countries, and benefiting from their expertise in linking research outputs to industry, noting that work on the ground has contributed significantly to bridging the gap between the academic programs offered by the university, scientific research and the needs of industry to meet the needs of the labor market. El-Kased expressed his happiness with the Minister's praise for the inclusion of 42 Egyptian universities in the Times Higher Education classification in its special edition for the Arab region for the year 2024, and the inclusion of 48 Egyptian universities in the results of the Arab University Rankings for the year 2024, as well as the inclusion of 26 Egyptian universities in the QS Sustainability Ranking for the year 2025, an increase of 3 universities over last year's edition, noting the progress of Menoufia University in these classifications, achieving advanced positions, confirming the efforts of the university within the framework of the international reference and its plan to advance in all international classifications in implementation of the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic.

El-Kased indicated that the Council was informed of the establishment of the Human Rights Unit as an independent administrative unit in a number of universities, including Menoufia University, and the approval of its administrative regulations, in light of the Central Human Rights Unit established at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
The Council also approved a number of proposals that can be followed to verify the validity of certificates submitted by holders of degrees from foreign universities before considering their equivalence by the Degree Equivalency Department of the Supreme Council of Universities. During the meeting, the most prominent activities of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research during the month of December were reviewed.