Dr. Ahmed El-Kased, President of Menoufia University, and Dr. Ahmed El-Shandawili, President of the Egyptian Boccia and Powerchair Sports Federation, signed a joint cooperation protocol aimed at organizing workshops and specialized training courses to prepare and qualify specialists in working with athletes with cerebral palsy. The agreement also seeks to expand future partnership opportunities between the university and the federation in human and sports development projects, and to enhance applied research in movement sciences and special abilities, supporting the national vision for empowering persons with disabilities, promoting their full social integration, and developing Egypt’s Paralympic sports infrastructure.

The protocol signing was attended by Menoufia University Vice Presidents: Dr. Sobhy Sharaf for Community Service and Environmental Development, Dr. Nasser Abdelbary for Education and Students, Dr. Ghada Hassan for Postgraduate Studies and Research; Dr. Hossam El-Din Mostafa, Chairman of the Egyptian Paralympic Committee; Dr. Mohamed Desouky, Vice President of the Egyptian Boccia and Powerchair Sports Federation; Dr. Ibrahim Amin, Board Member and Treasurer of the Egyptian Paralympic Committee; Dr. Ahmed Saher, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Sport Sciences for Postgraduate Studies and Research and Director of the Center for Students with Disabilities; and Dr. Atiyat Mohamed, Deputy Director of the Center.

Dr. Ahmed El-Kased emphasized that Menoufia University aligns with the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who prioritizes support and empowerment of persons with disabilities across all fields. The university places this national approach at the forefront of its priorities through community initiatives and training programs that facilitate the integration of persons with special needs into academic and professional life, providing a supportive environment for excellence and innovation.

He added that signing this protocol reflects the university’s commitment to community service and raising awareness of the importance of integrating persons with disabilities across various domains. The university is committed to providing specialized training and qualification opportunities in sports, academics, and community engagement.

Dr. El-Kased explained that collaboration with the Egyptian Boccia and Powerchair Sports Federation is a key step toward promoting Paralympic sports culture and developing national expertise to professionally work with athletes with cerebral palsy, positively impacting both sports performance and community engagement.

Dr. Ahmed El-Shandawili expressed his pleasure in signing the protocol with Menoufia University, noting that cooperation with Egyptian universities is a fundamental pillar of the federation’s strategy to expand the base of boccia and powerchair sports practitioners, and to prepare scientifically and practically qualified trainers and specialists to work with athletes with disabilities.

He added that the federation seeks through this collaboration to build an integrated system for training and qualification that discovers, supports, and empowers talents to achieve local and international achievements, praising Menoufia University’s leading role in community service and support for persons with disabilities.

The protocol includes several key provisions: organizing accredited training courses and workshops in powerchair sports and boccia, exchanging expertise in preparing technical and administrative staff, developing specialized training programs for trainers and referees working with athletes with disabilities, supporting scientific research to improve performance for athletes with cerebral palsy, organizing university sports tournaments and events, and conducting joint activities in laboratories and sports facilities to maximize benefits for both parties. Both sides stressed the importance of quickly activating the cooperation provisions and establishing a joint implementation plan for the upcoming training courses and workshops at the university.

The meeting concluded with an exchange of commemorative plaques between the parties.