Prof. Ahmed Elkased, Menofia University President, and Dr. Ghada Ali, Executive Coordinator of International Affairs, met with Dr. Mustafa Shehata Attallah, Assistant Professor of Printed and Electronic Press at the Faculty of Mass Media; and Dr. Doaa Bayoumi, Assistant Professor of French Language at the Faculty of Arts-- who represented Menofia University, as part of a delegate of the University's elite faculty, as well as experts and educationalists from several countries, including Egypt, Zimbabwe, Gambia, Croatia, and Uzbekistan; within the programs "International Collaboration in Higher Education for BRI Countries" and "Training Outstanding Tutors from Developing Countries"; hosted by Zhejiang Normal University in Jinhua city in China this September, under the auspices of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.
During the meeting, the president appraised Menofia University's participation as part of its aim towards international openness and building scientific cooperation bridges with esteemed international universities, in order to elevate higher education level and exchange the best international practices and expertise. This participation also comes within the framework of enhancing academic relations between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the People's Republic of China; and as part of Menofia University's efforts to enhance its international presence and exchange expertise in diverse educational and cultural fields.
Prof. Elkased emphasized the importance of this participation in strengthening Egyptian-Chinese relationships and opening new venues for academic and research collaboration among universities, in light of the Egyptian State's inclination towards fostering international partnerships and active involvement in the Belt and Road Initiative. It would also contribute in opening new venues for joint cooperation between Egyptian and Chinese universities in the fields of education, scientific research, and training; which would serve the paths of development, progress, and preparing qualified calibres who are capable of achieving the goals of sustainable development and Egypt's 2030 vision. Moreover, it would support the professional development of faculty and benefit from international expertise in the fields of education and training. The president pointed out that this program is an important platform for exchanging knowledge and experience, and contributes to enhancing the efficiency of academic calibres in line with international variables.
The University President expressed his sincere appreciation to the administration of Zhejiang University for the impeccable organization and the warm reception, as he asserted Menofia University's keenness on continuing this fruitful collaboration and opening new paths for future partnerships that would benefit both parties.
The University President listened to the report presented by Dr. Ghada Ali about the visit and its important activities. She pointed out that this is the second group to participate in the program; preceded by a group of 3 faculty members who took part in the program.
During the meeting, Dr. Mustafa Shehata said that the program gave him the chance to witness outstanding academic and cultural experiences, and he presented ideas for future cooperation with the participating universities.
The visit focused on discussing ways of international cooperation in the fields of higher education, including globalizing academic programs, student and faculty exchange, and creating joint research projects in the fields of medicine, engineering, education, culture, and digital technology.
The visit also included meetings with Chinese institutions and universities' officials to discuss long term institutional collaboration.
Dr. Shehata added that the program also included academic lectures and field visits to universities such as Jinhua University of Vocational Technology, and leading companies such as Merit Link and Holdon; in addition to cultural activities and visits to local museums and institutes. This experience, he said, enhanced his awareness of the role higher education plays in bridging international collaboration and cultural exchange.
On the other hand, Dr. Doaa Bayoumi pointed out that the seminar on "Training Outstanding Tutors from Developing Countries" aimed to support and develop the abilities of tutors in developing countries, foster educational and cultural exchange, and strengthen strategic partnerships in education between China and its partners. Participating in this program is a positive step towards transferring successful educational experiences, deepening mutual understanding between cultures, and benefiting from the Chinese experience in developing tutor preparation systems and implementing technology in education.
She added that the program included a number of lectures and workshops on important topics such as tutor efficiency in the digital age, prototypes of educational development in China, multicultural educational strategies, incorporating AI in education, educational policies, and academic governance.
The program also included field trips to great Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Hangzhou; to see leading educational practices and explore educational examples in Chinese rural towns; in addition to visiting the old city of Jinhua and exploring its cultural heritage, trying out traditional crafts like dying fabric and making Wuzhou pottery, visiting the model primary school affiliated with Zhejiang Normal University, exploring the West Lake as an international UNESCO heritage site, and experiencing sessions in tea art and Chinese culture.
Dr. Doaa Bayoumi mentioned that the program had wide media coverage, as the Chinese daily newspaper, The People, published photographs from the experience of immaterial cultural heritage, of the outstanding tutors training program; Sina Network gave a special report on the event, and Zhejiang University published detailed reports on the program on its official website and digital platforms.
To view full coverage of the program, please see the following links:
The People Newspaper:
http://vip.people.com.cn/albumsDetail?aid=1982827
Sina Network: https://photo.sina.cn/album_1_2841_611737.htm?vt=4&hd=1
Zhejiang University: https://rw.zjnu.edu.cn/2025/0908/c2012a526244/page.htm
Zhejiang Normal University:
https://www.facebook.com/StudyatZJNU/