Erasmus Mundus Promotional and Networking Events in Alexandria, Egypt

The promotional seminars were addressed, in total, to over 70 university students (undergraduate and postgraduate) and assisted by scholars and administrative staff who enriched the talks. The first Erasmus Mundus seminar held on December 26th in the Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport (AASTMT) was coordinated by Dr. Mohamed Fahmey Shehada (Associate Professor at College of Engineering and MEDASTAR programme coordinator), assisted by Dr. Ezza (ELEMENT programme coordinator at AASTMT) and presented by EMA member Khaled Metwally. The second Erasmus Mundus seminar was held on December 27th in the Faculty of Engineering, University of Alexandria coordinated by EMA member Khaled Metwally and Dr. Noha Youssri (Assistant Professor at Faculty of Engineering), assisted by Prof. Dr. Heba Wael Leheta (Vice-Dean for Graduate Studies and Research) and presented by EMA-AC Board member Abdeltif El Ouahrani.

The networking event was held in the Bibliotheca of Alexandria and ended with a get-together in an English style coffee shop. The event attended by 4 EMA members (Périhan Radwan, Khaled Metwally, Ahmed Lotfi and Abdeltif EL Ouahrani) and one Erasmus Mundus candidate (Ahmed Abd Rabo who will graduate by June 2012), the networking event also assisted by Dr. Mohamed Fahmey and two members of Arab WAYS (World Academy of Young Scientists) teaching in the German University of Cairo: Dr. Sameh Ahmed Kantouch and Dr. Tarik Youssef. The multi-facetted issues of fostering research partnership in Northern Africa and Arab world, Establishing EMA-CR and regional networks and the issue of professional development of EMA members across Egypt and Northern Africa, mainly in the framework of Erasmus for All, were the main topics addressed.

Furthermore, it was great honour to welcome Prof. Salem Mahmoud Elkhodary (Director of the Consultation Center, Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University, Cairo) who started a discussion on a possible cooperation with EMA-African Chapter delegates during the EMA-event (COP17) in Durban. Dr. Salem and on behalf of his colleague Dr. Mohamed Abdel EL-Rahman expressed their interest in close collaboration with EMA-AC to develop a project named “Africa A to Z” focusing principally on energy outlook in Africa to be presented during the COP18 in Doha (Qatar) in December 2012. During his short visit, Dr. Salem and I had the chance to exchange number of perspectives from which EMA-AC members can contribute to mutual project and develop future partnership with his Consultation Center.

Finally, the EMA Event in Alexandria was a great success as a first step to stimulate EMA networking capacity and further promote cooperation with other academia networks cross Northern Africa. 

By Abdeltif El Ouahrani (Coordinator of Northern Africa)