The Faculty of Computers and Information at Ain Shams University Launches an Awareness Initiative to Promote Digital Literacy Among School Students
As part of its commitment to community engagement and service, and in its pursuit of digital literacy and increased awareness of digital security and safety across various digital communication platforms, the Faculty of Computers and Information at Ain Shams University launched an awareness initiative targeting school students. The initiative was launched under the auspices of Professor Dr. Mohamed Diaa Zein El Abdeen, President of Ain Shams University, and Professor Dr. Ghada Farouk, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development, and under the supervision of Professor Dr. Rasha Ismail, Dean of the Faculty, and Professor Dr. Sherine Rady, Vice Dean for Community Service and Environmental Development.
The initiative aims to raise community awareness through a series of vital topics, primarily digital security and the uses of artificial intelligence. It also highlights the risks associated with using digital systems, including social media and its related threats to privacy, online fraud, and account hacking, as well as explaining the negative effects of internet addiction on adolescents. It also includes introducing artificial intelligence systems and their benefits, especially in the fields of education and learning, while raising awareness of responsible use methods.
In the first event of this initiative, a delegation from the college visited the Martyr Major General Mohamed Hany Mostafa School (formerly Al-Maqrizi School) – an experimental school. The delegation included Professor Dr. Sherine Rady, Vice Dean for Community Service and Environmental Development; Professor Dr. Safaa Amin, Coordinator of the Software Engineering Program; and faculty members Manar Sultan, Radwa El-Husseini, and Mohamed El-Mudathir, as well as Heba Ahmed and Yahya Ahmed from the administrative team.
The school principal, Ms. Soha Fouad, along with the school's administration and teachers, welcomed the visiting team. Following this, the college team gave a presentation entitled "Cyber Threats and Risks: Protecting Yourself in the Digital World," which was followed by an open discussion with middle and high school students, as well as some faculty members. The two-hour meeting witnessed significant and noticeable interaction from the attendees.
The event addressed several important topics, most notably:
Security threats and risks in the digital environment.
Cyber fraud through phishing via email and various platforms.
Account hacks and how to prevent them.
How to secure accounts by choosing strong passwords, being cautious with suspicious websites and links, enabling two-factor authentication, and monitoring accounts to detect any suspicious activity.
At the end of the visit, the students expressed their appreciation for the day and the great benefit they gained from it, emphasizing their commitment to applying what they learned in their daily digital lives.
This initiative comes as part of the college's commitment to its social responsibility in building safe and responsible digital awareness among young people, contributing to preparing a generation capable of dealing consciously and safely with modern technologies.