AAU Governing Board Gathers for 83rd Meeting at Badr University, Egypt

Badr University, a member of the Association of African Universities (AAU), successfully hosted the 83rd Governing Board Meeting from June 24-26, 2024, at its campus in eastern Cairo, Egypt.

Founded in 2014, Badr University is a private institution offering degrees and programs accredited by the Supreme Council of Universities in Egypt. The university comprises sixteen schools, providing both undergraduate and graduate degrees in various fields, including Pharmacy, Medicine, Engineering & Technology, Dentistry, Physical Therapy, Linguistics & Translation, Nursing, Business & Economics, Filmmaking & Performing Arts, Applied Arts, Veterinary Medicine, Biotechnology, Allied Health Sciences, Law, Political Sciences, and Humanities & Social Sciences. Additionally, the Institute for Professional Development & Continuing Education offers various certifications and credentials across multiple disciplines.

The Governing Board is a principal organ of the Association of African Universities, responsible for implementing the decisions of the General Conference and reporting on all its activities. The Board meets at least once a year in an ordinary session, with the date and venue determined by its members.

The Directorate of International Affairs at Badr University (BUC) led the organization of the AAU Governing Board meeting, managing pre-meeting logistics and on-site arrangements, including transportation, venue provisioning, and organizing learning sessions involving various schools and faculties within the university.

On Monday, June 24, 2024, the Governing Board sessions were preceded by a special meeting with the top leadership of Badr University, chaired by Prof. Dr. Ashraf Mohamed El-Shihy, the President of the university. In his welcome address to the AAU Governing Board, Prof. El-Shihy expressed pride in being AAU members and emphasized BUC’s anticipation of increased cooperation with African universities. He highlighted that Egypt’s higher education system comprises over one hundred universities and approximately 30 research centers. He also mentioned that BUC’s extensive infrastructure in Cairo resulted from significant investment by the Cairo for Investment and Real Estate Development (CIRA) group.

The President of the AAU, Professor Bakri Osman Saeed, thanked the BUC leadership for their exceptional efforts in hosting the AAU Governing Board meeting in Egypt. He acknowledged the excellent hospitality provided by BUC, describing it as inspiring and a testament to how nations can progress through the visions, dreams, and dedication of a few individuals.

The Secretary General of the AAU, Professor Olusola Bandele Oyewole, expressed gratitude to Professor El-Meteini, the former President of Ain Shams University and a current AAU Board Member, for connecting the Association with BUC. He also thanked Professor Dr. Ashraf Mohamed El-Shihy for their hospitality and pledged that African universities look forward to partnering with Egyptian universities. Additionally, Professor Oyewole recognized the leadership of Al-Azhar University for its commitment to hosting the Association’s North Africa office for the past five years.

Partnership Discussions with Badr University

On June 26, 2024, the Governing Board Members held a special meeting with the Deans of Faculties and Schools at Badr University to explore potential collaboration and engagement opportunities. Present at this meeting were Deans from the Faculties of Physical Therapy, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Dental Medicine, and Applied Arts.

The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine highlighted their various international centers open to collaboration with African universities, including the International Center for One Health, the International Center for Food Safety, and the Center for Veterinary Consultations. All the faculties represented emphasized that their programs are not only nationally accredited but also internationally recognized by agencies such as the American Heart Association and the American Society of Simulation in Healthcare.

Highlighted areas for potential cooperation between BUC and international universities include:

1. Medical Internships and Training: Opportunities through online healthcare courses, research support for student publications, external audits of entire programs, facilitating graduate mobility and rotations, development of e-portfolios, training of trainers, physical courses for surgical skills, and training of trainers for clinical governance and risk management.
2. Undergraduate Training Support: Online interprofessional healthcare courses, research support for student publications, external program audits, and faculty exchange programs.
3. Postgraduate Teaching Support: Dual programs in various clinical disciplines (professional/academic), workshops for specific clinical skills (both generic and specialty-related), development of accredited training centers for specific specialties/subspecialties, capital medicine, health information systems, and the establishment of Centers of Excellence.

The Association of African Universities (AAU) continues to solidify its influence and reach as the leading voice for higher education in Africa. At the Cairo Board Meeting, the AAU unveiled a new strategic plan for 2024 to 2030. This plan’s approval enables the AAU to innovate and tackle complex higher education challenges, building on its nearly six decades of experience in higher education advocacy and management

The Badr University International office demonstrated its critical role in supporting the university’s mission to provide a global education, fostering cross-cultural understanding, and preparing students for a globalized world.