Prof. Ahmed El-Kased, President of Menoufia University, briefed the members of the University Council during its regular meeting—held in the presence of Prof. Ahmed Zaki Badr, former Minister of Local Development; Prof. Sobhy Sharaf, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development; Prof. Nasser Abdelbary, Vice President for Education and Student Affairs; Prof. Ghada Hassan, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research; Ms. Soaad Bayoumi, Secretary General of the University; and the Deans of the Faculties—on the provisions of the Academic Integrity and Research Ethics Guide in Egypt.
The guide was launched by the Supreme Council of Universities as the first comprehensive and unified national framework aimed at entrenching the values of academic honesty, enhancing the quality of scientific research, and ensuring the governance of academic practices within Egyptian universities and research institutions.
The University President emphasized that the launch of this guide represents a pivotal step toward establishing an integrated system of academic integrity and promoting sound research practices within Egyptian universities. This, he noted, ensures the quality of scientific output, protects intellectual property rights, and reinforces the values of academic honesty, transparency, and responsibility. He praised the importance of the guide and its role in supporting the research ecosystem, in line with the National Strategy for Higher Education and Egypt Vision 2030 for building a knowledge-based society and promoting integrity and scientific excellence.
Prof. El-Kased explained that the guide includes several key pillars, most notably:
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Providing precise definitions of core concepts related to academic integrity, scientific plagiarism, data fabrication, and conflicts of interest.
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Establishing a comprehensive framework for research ethics covering research involving humans, animals, the environment, and data.
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Offering clear guidelines for responsible scientific publishing, peer review, research authorship, and the order of authors.
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Developing preventive mechanisms for awareness-raising and capacity building within universities, alongside fair and transparent procedures for addressing violations.
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Supporting the governance of research ethics committees and aligning them with international reference standards.
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Keeping pace with digital transformation and the use of artificial intelligence and big data within a well-regulated ethical framework.
The University President added that the Academic Integrity and Research Ethics Guide dedicates a chapter to clarifying the ethics of social media use by academics and researchers, ensuring responsible and conscious engagement with these platforms. The guide emphasizes adherence to professional values, respect for academic principles, avoidance of publishing or circulating any content that may harm the reputation of academic institutions or compromise scientific integrity, and the necessity of accuracy and objectivity in all published or shared material. Given the growing societal influence of social media, he stressed the importance of employing these platforms positively in a manner that reflects the role of academics and researchers as role models in society.
Prof. El-Kased directed the Deans of the Faculties to take the necessary executive measures and to work on raising awareness of the guide’s provisions among faculty members, researchers, and postgraduate students through seminars, workshops, and specialized training courses.
Link to the Academic Integrity and Research Ethics Guide in Egypt:
https://bit.ly/4bNqG2n
Link to the Academic Integrity Index Report:
https://bit.ly/4q0SQuy
If you’d like, I can also provide a short press-release version, a web-friendly summary, or a version tailored for international students and partners.