Prof. Ahmed Farag El-Kased, President of Menoufia University, chaired a meeting of the University's Central Academic Advising Unit, attended by Prof. Sobhy Sharaf, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development and Acting Supervisor of the Education and Student Affairs Sector, members of the Central Unit, and coordinators of the Academic Advising Units across the University's faculties. The meeting was held as part of the University's ongoing efforts to enhance the academic advising system and strengthen its role in supporting students and improving the quality of the educational process.

At the outset of the meeting, Prof. Ahmed Farag El-Kased extended his congratulations to the committee members, the University's staff, and the Islamic nation on the occasion of the approaching Hijri New Year, praying that it brings continued prosperity, stability, and progress to Egypt and the Arab and Islamic nations.

The University President emphasized that Menoufia University views academic advising as an integrated system that extends beyond guiding students throughout their years of study to include career advising, particularly during the final years of study. This approach aims to prepare students for the labor market, help them identify career opportunities, and build clear professional pathways that enable them to compete successfully at both the national and international levels after graduation.

Prof. El-Kased added that the University embraces the philosophy that "Quality is a Way of Life" within the academic community, emphasizing that achieving quality is directly reflected in preparing distinguished graduates equipped with the knowledge, skills, and competencies required for professional success and sustainable career development. He noted that the University continues its efforts to document academic courses, regularly review academic regulations, and update curricula to keep pace with the rapidly evolving labor market while strengthening the competitiveness of the University and its academic programs.

He further explained that the University places great importance on providing an integrated student support system that includes academic advising as well as psychological and social support, considering these essential components for creating a supportive university environment that encourages success and innovation. He also highlighted the importance of establishing clear frameworks for competition and excellence among faculties to enhance institutional performance and improve educational outcomes.

The President also stressed the importance of expanding academic advising services within postgraduate programs, thereby supporting researchers academically and professionally while strengthening the link between scientific research outcomes, national development priorities, and labor market needs.

Prof. El-Kased added that the University is implementing a comprehensive vision for developing its academic advising system through a transition toward proactive advising, based on continuous monitoring and early analysis of student performance indicators. This approach aims to reduce academic difficulties, improve student achievement rates, and enhance the overall university experience.

He emphasized that the success of the academic advising system extends beyond providing academic guidance alone; it depends on building a genuine partnership among students, academic advisors, and faculties. He reaffirmed the University's commitment to continuously qualifying academic advisors and unifying advising mechanisms across all faculties to ensure the delivery of more efficient and effective advising services.

During the meeting, participants reviewed the progress achieved during the previous period, including the formation of work teams within faculty academic advising units, activation of communication and coordination mechanisms with faculties, implementation of training programs for academic advisors, organization of various student support activities and services, follow-up on student and advisor satisfaction assessment results, and presentations highlighting the achievements, best practices, and successful models implemented by the faculty advising units.

The meeting also discussed the major challenges facing the implementation of the academic advising system across the University's faculties, mechanisms for supporting academically struggling and at-risk students, as well as the proposed action plan for the coming period, targeted performance indicators, and proposals for further developing the advising system.

For his part, Prof. Sobhy Sharaf, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development and Acting Supervisor of the Education and Student Affairs Sector, affirmed that academic advising is a fundamental pillar in shaping students' personalities and supporting their academic and professional development. He noted that the University is working to strengthen integration between the faculties and the Central Academic Advising Unit to ensure that advising services reach all students with greater efficiency and quality.

Prof. Hayam Mostafa, Coordinator of the University's Central Academic Advising Unit, stated that the achievements realized during the past period were the result of continuous cooperation between the Central Unit and the faculty advising units. She explained that the next phase will focus on enhancing the competencies of academic advisors, improving monitoring and evaluation tools, and promoting the exchange of expertise and successful experiences among the University's faculties.

She further added that the Central Unit will continue implementing training plans and a variety of support programs aimed at building a more flexible and responsive academic advising system that effectively addresses students' needs, thereby improving academic performance and reducing rates of academic underachievement.

At the conclusion of the meeting, participants agreed on a number of executive recommendations, including the timely submission of periodic reports to the Central Academic Advising Unit, updating databases of academically struggling students across the faculties, implementing a unified training plan for academic advisors, promoting awareness of academic advising among students, and documenting best practices while encouraging the exchange of successful experiences among the University's faculties in preparation for implementing the agreed-upon actions during the next phase.