With the participation of universities from the Delta Region Universities Alliance, Dr. Sherif Khater, President of Mansoura University, inaugurated on Monday, June 16, 2025, the Delta Region Universities Summit for Sustainability and Development – From Challenge to Launch – organized by the Community Service and Environmental Development Sector at Prof. Dr. Magdy Abou Rayan Hall, Faculty of Engineering.

The opening was attended by Dr. Reda Hegazy – Former Minister of Education and President of Al-Reyada University, Prof. Dr. Abdelrazek Desouky – President of Kafr El-Sheikh University, Prof. Dr. Hamdan Rabie – President of Damietta University, Prof. Dr. Mohamed Hussein – President of Tanta University, Prof. Dr. Moawad El-Khouly – President of New Mansoura University, Prof. Dr. El-Saeed Abdelhadi – President of Horus University, Prof. Dr. Yehia El-Mashad – President of Delta University, Prof. Dr. Abdel Fattah Seddaka – President of Salam University, Prof. Dr. Orabi El-Sayed Keshk – President of Delta Technological University, and Prof. Dr. Montaser Dowidar – President of Samanoud University of Technology, as well as vice presidents of universities, deans and vice deans of faculties, experts and specialists, representatives of industrial and community organizations, journalists, and media professionals.

At the beginning of the summit, Prof. Dr. Mohamed Abdel Azim – Vice President of Mansoura University for Community Service and Environmental Development – highlighted that no progress can be achieved without planning, and no development without a system. He explained that the national agenda for sustainable development consists of 6 main goals and 32 sub-goals, emphasizing that universities play a vital role, especially in the fields of education and health, which are key pillars of Egypt’s National Strategy. He also outlined the Ministry of Higher Education’s efforts to realize Egypt Vision 2030 and mentioned that Mansoura University was among the first to establish a Human Rights Unit, a step later followed by other Egyptian universities.

He further elaborated on Mansoura University’s strategy for social responsibility, noting that it is the first public university to obtain ISO certification in this area. This strategy is based on three pillars: Strategic Social Responsibility Values, Strategic Goals, and Performance Evaluation of the University’s Work System. He concluded with a focus on enabling measurable outcomes in creativity and innovation across institutions in the near future.

Dr. Sherif Khater, President of Mansoura University, welcomed the university presidents and participating delegations, expressing pride in hosting the summit. He emphasized that the summit provides an important platform for exchanging ideas and experiences in the field of sustainability among regional universities, contributing to national efforts to achieve Egypt Vision 2030 and strengthening the societal role of Egyptian universities.

He also presented a report on the Delta Region Universities Alliance’s activities during the 2024–2025 academic year, during which Mansoura University had the honor of leading the alliance.

Dr. Khater then honored the member universities of the Delta Region Alliance in recognition of their tireless efforts and fruitful activities over the past year. He also formally handed over the presidency of the Alliance to Prof. Dr. Mohamed Hussein, President of Tanta University, in accordance with the rotational leadership mechanism between Mansoura and Tanta Universities. This mechanism aims to enhance cooperation and integration among member institutions, promote academic and administrative experience exchange, and support joint projects in scientific research, community development, and educational quality improvement across the region.

Prof. Dr. Mohamed Hussein expressed appreciation for Mansoura University’s leadership during the previous term and reviewed the Alliance’s action plan for the upcoming 2025/2026 term under Tanta University’s leadership.

The summit’s main session concluded, followed by a series of dialogue sessions with participation from faculty members, experts, industry partners, and civil society representatives. These sessions addressed various themes including: climate change, coastal erosion, biodiversity, architectural sustainability, digital transformation, industrial zones and the circular economy, educational challenges, and pollution.

It is worth noting that this summit reaffirms Mansoura University's commitment to supporting sustainable development goals and strengthening its role as a key contributor in building a conscious, knowledge-based society capable of formulating sustainable solutions for the future.