Prof. Ahmed Elkased, Menofia University President; and Prof. Ghada Hassan, Vice-president for Postgraduate Studies and Research; received Dr. Ibrahim Aslan, the Educational Counselor at the Turkish Republic Embassy in Cairo, in order to foster academic relations, exchange expertise between Egyptian and Turkish universities, and discuss the various means of joint collaboration in the fields of higher education and scientific research. The meeting was attended by Prof. Khaled Ziada, Dean of the Faculty of Arts.
During the meeting, Menofia University President emphasized the depth of historic and strategic relations between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Turkish Republic; pointing out that the University is keen on openness to distinguished international experiences, expanding the range of academic partnerships to contribute to the development of the educational and research process, exchanging academic staff and students, and implementing joint academic and research projects.
The meeting also included discussing the means of signing collaboration agreements between Menofia University and a number of Turkish universities, which would open new venues for joint academic and scientific cooperation. Both parties discussed items in the agreements targeting exchange of academic staff and students, implementing joint study and research programs, organizing conferences and seminars, in addition to exchanging expertise in the field of developing curricula and educational programs. This would enhance the University's status regionally and globally, serve the goals of elevating the quality of education and scientific research, and meet the demands of sustainable development and the Egyptian State's vision for higher education.
On his part, the Educational Counselor at the Turkish Republic Embassy in Cairo expressed his content on visiting Menofia University, as a long-standing university. He greatly appreciated the standard of education in Egypt, and appraised the noticeable development at Egyptian universities in educational infrastructure and academic programs, as well as the quality of the educational and research process. He also said that Menofia University stands as a distinguished example among Egyptian universities.
At the meeting, Menofia University President said that the Eastern Languages Department at the Faculty of Arts is one of the prominent departments at the University, reflecting its role in supporting regional and global language and cultural studies. The Eastern Languages Department offers academic programs that contribute in preparing qualified calibers with deep linguistic and cultural skills, and who are capable of fostering the cultural dialogue among nations.
The Educational Counselor at the Turkish Republic Embassy in Cairo gifted the Library at the Faculty of Arts with more than 700 books in Turkish; which would enrich the knowledge and scientific content of the Library and support the educational and research process.
Menofia University President praised this initiative as an added value to the learning resources at the Eastern Languages Department that would contribute to supporting students and researchers, and increase opportunities to access the latest specialized references. This would positively affect the standards of study and scientific research at the Faculty. He extended his sincere thanks and appreciation to the Educational Counselor at the Turkish Republic Embassy in Cairo for this fruitful visit, and for the gift of valuable books to the Library at the Faculty of Arts, which offers true support to the educational and research process. He also stressed that this step reflects the depth of the bilateral academic and cultural relations, and contributes to fostering joint collaboration so as to serve students and researchers, and support the University's progress.
At the end of the meeting, both parties stressed the importance of continuing contact and coordination over the coming period, working to set down the items of collaboration agreements, and taking initial implementation steps that would foster educational relations between Egypt and Turkey.