Dr. Ahmed El-Kased , President of Menoufia University, stated that Menoufia University hosted the meeting of the Supreme Council for Community Service Affairs, in the presence of Dr. Mustafa Refaat, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Universities, and the members of the Council, including presidents and deputies of Egyptian universities, for community service and environmental development affairs.

El-Kased pointed out that Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education, reviewed a report submitted by the Secretary of the Supreme Council of Universities on the regular meeting of the Supreme Council for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs, which was held in the conference hall at Menoufia University.

The meeting witnessed the Council thanking the Menoufia University family for hosting the meeting of the Supreme Council for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs, praising the level of the university’s performance in organizing the conference for the community service and environmental development sector, under the slogan “The Green Future and the Move towards Transforming an Environmentally Friendly University... Opportunities and Challenges” in the presence of Dr. Ahmed Al-Qasid, President of the University, Mohamed Moussa, Deputy Governor of Menoufia, Presidents of the Universities of (New Valley, Luxor, Damanhour), Dr. Sobhi Sharaf, Vice President of the University for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs and President of the Conference, and Dr. Hazem Saleh, Vice President of the University for Postgraduate Studies and Research Affairs, And vice presidents of Egyptian universities for community service and environmental development, deans and deans of colleges, and members of the teaching staff and the university’s supporting staff.

Dr. Ahmed El-Kased added that the report submitted to the Minister of Higher Education addressed the Council’s discussion of a number of important topics, including:

• Follow up on the action plan of the integration regions’ alliances for Egyptian universities in the field of community service and environmental development.

• Discussing the new criteria for the Best Environmentally Friendly University Competition for the year 2024.

In addition to adopting the mechanism for implementing the recommendations of the Upper Egypt Effectiveness Forum, which was held at Assiut University, defining the role of universities in implementing them, and discussing the possibility of concluding a cooperation protocol with the New and Renewable Energy Authority in this regard.

El-Kased explained that the Council agreed to form a joint committee of government universities and scientific research centers and institutes at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. To establish controls and requirements for the safe handling and integrated management of hazardous waste; To achieve the actual implementation of the Waste Management Regulation Law No. 202 of 2020.

The Council was also informed of the universities’ reports on the activities and achievements of the community service and environmental development sector in universities in serving the areas most in need within the Decent Life Initiative for the year 2023, including sending comprehensive development convoys (medical, veterinary, agricultural) to them.

The report also included that during the conference activities, Dr. Ahmed El-Kased pointed out the importance of the conference and the timing of its holding, as it coincides with the holding of the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), which will be held from November 30 to December 12, 2023 in Expo City. Dubai.

For his part, Dr. Mustafa Refaat praised the efforts of Menoufia University to transform into an environmentally friendly university, pointing out the importance of transitioning to a green economy that aims to reduce environmental risks and carbon emissions, maximize the use of available resources, and improve human well-being and social equality.

Dr. Mustafa Refaat stressed that Egypt is seeking to achieve sustainable development in accordance with the recommendations of the United Nations Development Program and the International Monetary Fund, and to search for alternative resources for industry and investment, represented by new and renewable energy resources, such as sun, wind, and new sources of energy, such as natural gas and tidal energy. He explained that achieving sustainable development and raising growth rates are among the desired goals globally and locally, as all countries of the world are seeking to achieve sustainable development in all economic, social, environmental, political, and technical aspects.

The report confirmed that the first session of the conference dealt with the presentations of the winning universities in the competition for the best environmentally friendly university for the year 2023, which are the universities of (Mansoura, Cairo, Ain Shams, Assiut, and Beni Suef).