Amid an atmosphere filled with joy and pride, the Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences at Ain Shams University celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2026, marking the 27th graduating class since the Faculty's establishment.
The ceremony was held under the patronage of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, and was inaugurated by Prof. Rasha Ismail, Dean of the Faculty. The event was attended by Eng. Mahmoud Badawi, Assistant Minister of Communications and Information Technology for Digital Transformation; Prof. Essam Khalifa, Head of the Computer Science and Informatics Sector Committee at the Supreme Council of Universities and former Dean of the Faculty; Prof. Mohamed Roshdy, Head of the Supreme Council of Universities' Promotions Committee and former Dean of the Faculty; Prof. Reem El-Kabary, Director of the University's Alumni Association; Prof. Ahmed Rageh, Executive Dean of the University of East London (UEL); Eng. Asmaa Serag, Executive Director of Huawei ICT Academies in Egypt; Prof. Ahmed Hamad, President of Egypt University of Informatics; Prof. Nagwa Badr, President of the University of East London Branch at the European Universities in Egypt; and Prof. Omar Karam, Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science at the British University in Egypt. The ceremony was also attended by the Faculty's Vice Deans, a distinguished group of faculty members, and prominent alumni.
In her opening remarks, Prof. Rasha Ismail expressed her happiness at celebrating a new graduating class, extending her congratulations to the graduates' parents and families, who had been genuine partners in this achievement through their continuous support, care, and sacrifices throughout the years of study. She emphasized that they share in the graduates' success and have every reason to be proud of their accomplishments.
She added that, with the graduation of the 27th class, the Faculty proudly presents 585 graduates to the nation, specializing in computing and information technology. These promising young professionals are equipped with knowledge, expertise, and modern technological skills, enabling them to contribute effectively to national development and economic growth, while supporting the advancement of various sectors in which digital transformation and technological progress have become essential drivers of development.
Prof. Ismail emphasized the Faculty's commitment to keeping pace with the rapid developments in technology and computing through ten distinguished specialized academic programs covering a wide range of modern disciplines. These include Information Systems, Computer Science, Scientific Computing, Computer Systems, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, Multimedia, Robotics Computing, and Bioinformatics. This reflects the Faculty's ongoing commitment to advancing its educational system and preparing qualified graduates to meet the demands of future careers and keep pace with the accelerating technological revolution.
She also highlighted the Faculty's commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships with leading local and international technology companies and institutions. These partnerships provide students with valuable opportunities for practical training, direct interaction with industry professionals, and exposure to the latest technologies and applications. They also help bridge the gap between academic knowledge and labor market requirements, enhancing graduates' readiness to compete in both local and international markets.
Prof. Ismail further expressed her pride in the outstanding performance of the graduating class, praising their dedication, excellence, and creativity throughout their academic journey. She also commended the Faculty's students for their remarkable achievements in numerous local and international scientific and technological competitions, where they secured prestigious awards and advanced positions.
Addressing the graduates, she urged them to serve as ambassadors of their University and exemplary representatives of its graduates, becoming pioneers in their respective fields. She stressed the importance of lifelong learning, continuous professional development, and active participation in creating and advancing technology. She encouraged them to make knowledge, creativity, and hard work their tools for contributing to the progress of their country and serving humanity.
At the conclusion of her speech, Prof. Ismail expressed her sincere appreciation to the Ain Shams University administration, headed by the University President, for its continuous support of the Faculty and its commitment to developing the educational process and enhancing the quality of its graduates. She also thanked the Faculty's Vice Deans, Department Heads, faculty members, assistant staff, and all employees for their dedicated efforts in preparing and qualifying this distinguished group of graduates.
Eng. Mahmoud Badawi, Assistant Minister of Communications and Information Technology for Digital Transformation, began his speech by expressing his happiness and pride at being at Ain Shams University, his alma mater, where he graduated from the Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences in 2005. He emphasized the significant role the University had played in shaping his academic and professional development, noting that much of his professional success was built on the knowledge and experience he gained there.
He stressed the importance of reflecting on the university years that had come to an end and expressing gratitude to everyone who had contributed to the graduates' journey, including parents, families, professors, and colleagues, while recognizing their support and sacrifices.
Looking ahead, he explained that graduates have numerous career paths and opportunities available to them, ranging from freelancing and working in local and international institutions and various business sectors to entrepreneurship, innovation, and pursuing academic careers. He emphasized that these options are neither mutually exclusive nor final, as graduates can move between different paths according to their ambitions and the opportunities available to them.
He further highlighted that development in technology, software engineering, computing, and artificial intelligence never stops. The rapid changes taking place worldwide require graduates to continue learning and constantly developing their capabilities.
He stressed that the real challenge facing technology graduates should go beyond simply using technology to creating and developing it. He noted that Egypt will only achieve its desired global standing in technology through investment in the capabilities of Egyptian people and the preparation of qualified human resources capable of innovation and production.
He added that ambitions should extend beyond working within existing institutions to establishing Egyptian companies and organizations capable of developing and exporting technological products that can compete in global markets, thereby supporting the national economy and strengthening Egypt's position in technology and industry. He concluded by congratulating the graduates and their families and wishing them a bright future and continued success.
For his part, Prof. Essam Khalifa, Head of the Computer Science and Informatics Sector Committee at the Supreme Council of Universities, praised the dedicated efforts of faculty members in preparing generations capable of keeping pace with rapid technological developments. He emphasized that graduation does not mark the end of the learning journey, but rather the beginning of a new phase that requires continuous knowledge acquisition, skills development, and keeping up with the latest advancements in this rapidly evolving field. He also pointed out that artificial intelligence has become a defining force of the modern era and one of the most important drivers of the future, making it essential for graduates to be well prepared to understand its applications, utilize them effectively, and innovate through them.
Prof. Reem El-Kabary, Director of the Ain Shams University Alumni Association, also congratulated the graduates, emphasizing that graduation marks the beginning of a new phase of work, productivity, and innovation, in which they are expected to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired to serve society and their country.
She also highlighted the role of the University's Alumni Association in maintaining sustainable communication between the University and its graduates, serving as a bridge connecting different generations of alumni. The Association offers a range of services, including free training programs, seminars, and workshops to develop graduates' skills, in addition to providing training and employment opportunities that support their professional careers and maintain their connection with their alma mater.
Prof. Ahmed Rageh, Executive Dean of the University of East London, welcomed graduates of the Faculty's international specialized programs who had earned dual degrees from Ain Shams University and the University of East London (UEL). He expressed his pride in their achievements, emphasizing that their graduation was the result of years of dedication, commitment, and hard work. He also highlighted the strength of the partnership between Ain Shams University and UEL, which has successfully established a distinguished model built on shared values, goals, and ambitions.
In her speech, Eng. Asmaa Serag, Executive Director of Huawei ICT Academies in Egypt and representative of the industry sector, expressed her happiness at being at Ain Shams University as one of its graduates. She praised the strategic partnership between Ain Shams University and Huawei, which was launched approximately five years ago as one of the pioneering collaborations aimed at strengthening cooperation between academia and industry.
She explained that the partnership involved establishing a training center within the University to connect academic studies with industrial applications and prepare students for labor market requirements while they are still pursuing their studies.
She noted that this partnership has enabled University students to participate annually in international technology competitions, achieving outstanding results and prestigious positions. She particularly highlighted the achievements of students from the Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences at Ain Shams University who participated in international competitions in China, successfully representing both the University and Egypt on global award platforms and outperforming competitors from countries recognized as leaders in the technology industry.
She concluded by thanking Ain Shams University for its continued support of this partnership and its contribution to developing young talents and skills capable of representing Egypt with distinction internationally. She also expressed her pride in being an alumna of the University and extended her congratulations to the graduates and their families.
The ceremony also featured inspiring success stories from distinguished Faculty alumni. Among them was Eng. Mohamed Yacoub, who shared his professional experiences and highlighted the importance of continuous learning and career development. He discussed his transition from mobile application development to artificial intelligence and data science, before applying his expertise to establish a company specializing in innovative technological solutions for the real estate sector. The company's solutions utilize virtual reality, virtual tours, augmented reality, and mixed reality technologies.
In their speeches, the graduates expressed their immense happiness and pride in graduating from the Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences at Ain Shams University. They extended their sincere gratitude to the University and Faculty administrations, as well as faculty members and assistant staff, for the knowledge, support, and care they had received throughout their academic journey. They emphasized that the knowledge, experience, and skills they had acquired represent a launching point for their professional futures and a motivation to pursue further success, excellence, and meaningful contributions to society and their country.
The ceremony concluded with the honoring of Eng. Mahmoud Badawi, Assistant Minister of Communications and Information Technology; Prof. Reem El-Kabary, Director of the University's Alumni Association; Prof. Ahmed Rageh of the University of East London; Prof. Ahmed Hamad, President of Egypt University of Informatics; Prof. Nagwa Badr, President of the University of East London Branch at the European Universities in Egypt; Prof. Omar Karam, Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science at the British University in Egypt; and Eng. Mohamed Yacoub.
Researchers who obtained their Master's and PhD degrees during the year were also honored, alongside the graduates of the Class of 2026.
The audience also enjoyed musical performances presented by the Harmony Arabic Choir.