- Dr. El-Minshawy: the forum is a platform to discuss mechanisms to improve services provided to people of determination and review efforts exerted to develop them

 

- Major General Dr. Hisham Abu Al-Nasr: providing all forms of support to people with disabilities to achieve their full integration into society

 

- President of Assiut University: the forum for students with disabilities is a step towards a more inclusive educational environment according to international standards

 

- Assiut governor: we work with civil society organizations to provide grants and training opportunities for people with disabilities

 

- Dr. El-Minshawy: we seek to promote the integration of people with disabilities academically and socially through the development of services and infrastructure

 

- Governor of Assiut: "we strike with an iron hand" on any attempts to exploit the services of people with disabilities to ensure their rights

 

- Assiut University exempts students with disabilities from tuition fees and university city fees

 

- The governor of Assiut announces the exemption of people with disabilities from tuition fees and subscriptions in youth centers and Cultural Palaces to enhance their community integration

 

- Assiut University is one of the first universities to establish a center for the care of students with disabilities 

 

- Vice president of Assiut University for education and student affairs: the Center for the care of students with disabilities contributed to the achievement of advanced centers at the university level

 

- Vice president of the University for Community Affairs: developing the infrastructure of the University to be adequate to people with disabilities

 

- Vice president of the University for graduate studies and research: scholarships for outstanding graduate students with disabilities

 

- Education in Assiut: integrating 8,000 students with disabilities into school activities

 

- Undersecretary of the social solidarity Directorate in Assiut: development programs and grants to support people with disabilities

 

- Undersecretary of the Ministry of labor in Assiut: exemption of persons with disabilities from the fees of vocational training centers

 

- Forum recommendations: enhancing community awareness, cooperation with civil society organizations and supporting scientific research

 

   Dr. Ahmed El-Minshawy, president of Assiut University, opened on Tuesday evening, March 18, the forum for students with disabilities in the light of the international academic classification of universities, which is organized by the international academic classification office in cooperation with the Center for students with disabilities.

 

  The forum was attended by Major General Dr. Hisham Abu Al-Nasr, governor of Assiut, and Major General Ismail Hussein, advisor to the governor of Assiut, in addition to Dr. Ahmed Abdul Mawla, vice president for education and Student Affairs, Dr. Mahmoud Abdul Alim, vice president for community service and environmental development, and Dr. Jamal Badr, vice president for graduate studies and research. The forum was also attended by a number of undersecretaries of ministries, including Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim, undersecretary of the Ministry of education in Assiut, Mr. Ali Sayed, undersecretary of the Ministry of labor in Assiut, Ms. Shaima Abdel Muti, undersecretary of the Directorate of social solidarity in Assiut, as well as a number of university leaders, representatives of ministries and executive bodies, civil society organizations, faculty members, and university students with disabilities.

 

  Dr. Ahmed El-Minshawy stressed that Assiut University is committed to providing an integrated academic and rehabilitation environment that supports students of determination, in accordance with the best international standards. He added that the forum is a platform to discuss ways to improve the services provided to them and review the efforts made to ensure an inclusive educational experience that enables them to fully integrate into the university community.

 

The president of Assiut University pointed out that the university is making continuous efforts to develop its infrastructure to be adequate to people with disabilities, and to provide the latest educational and rehabilitation means that help them achieve their ambitions and participate effectively in society. He also praised the University's progress in international academic rankings, reflecting its commitment to improving the quality of education and scientific research.

 

  For his side, Major General Hisham Abu Al-Nasr, governor of Assiut, stressed that the governorate provides all forms of support to people with disabilities in various fields, including education, employment, material, Health and psychological support, in cooperation with civil society institutions. He pointed to the allocation of headquarters in each center and nearby to provide services to people with disabilities, stressing the beating with an iron hand on any attempts to exploit the services allocated to them, such as the use of Duty-Free cars, pointing to the presence of 25 civil associations working to support them, in addition to the provision of 4 new scholarships.

 

  The governor explained that there are directives to teach sign language within the educational curricula, with the establishment of a specialized school to teach it, in addition to exempting students with disabilities from tuition fees and contributions from youth centers and Cultural Palaces.

 

  Dr. Ahmed Abdul Mawla, vice president for education and Student Affairs, explained that the university was one of the first universities to establish a center for the care of students with disabilities, which contributed to their achieving advanced positions in student competitions.

 

  He pointed to the provision of training courses for them in digital transformation and the English language, in addition to exempting them from tuition fees and university city fees, with the provision of educational materials by accessible means, and doubling the financial prizes for the outstanding ones.

 

  Dr. Mahmoud Abdel Alim, vice president of the University for community service and Environmental Development, stressed that the University seeks to achieve the sustainability of services for people with disabilities through a specialized committee to develop infrastructure, in addition to providing special entry permits to facilitate their movement within the campus.

 

He also pointed to the role of the social solidarity unit in providing assistance and rehabilitation services to them, in addition to supporting the Professional Development Center to provide job opportunities commensurate with their abilities.

 

  Dr. Jamal Badr, vice president for graduate studies and Research Affairs, announced that the university is considering allocating two scholarships for distinguished graduate students with disabilities, as part of their support to complete their academic career.

 

He added that the Faculty of Education has launched 7 training programs to qualify graduates to deal with people with disabilities, and university fees have been reduced for them since November 2021, which helped many students complete their studies.

 

  Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim, undersecretary of the Ministry of education in Assiut, stressed that there are about 8,000 students with disabilities who receive all the necessary educational services within public schools, and are integrated into various school activities to ensure equal opportunities between them and their colleagues.

 

  Mr. Ali Sayed, undersecretary of the Ministry of labor in Assiut, explained that the ministry provides great facilities for people with disabilities, including exempting them from the fees of vocational training centers and training courses, to facilitate their integration into the labor market and provide suitable job opportunities for them.

 

  Ms. Shaima Abdul muti, undersecretary of the social solidarity Directorate, reviewed a number of development programs and grants provided by the ministry to support people with disabilities, which aim to achieve social justice and provide a supportive environment for them.

 

The forum concluded with a number of recommendations aimed at improving the University and community environment for people with disabilities, including: enhancing community awareness of the needs of people with disabilities, cooperating with civil society institutions to provide training and employment opportunities for graduates, improving the university infrastructure to be more suitable for people with disabilities, providing assistive technology within the University, allocating periodic questionnaires to measure the quality of services provided, cooperating with international universities to introduce study programs dedicated to them, preparing mass transportation in the governorate to suit their needs, providing specialized psychological counseling services to them, supporting scientific research focused on disability issues and allocating research grants in this field.

 

  The forum witnessed artistic presentations by the team of the Center for students with disabilities, with the aim of supporting student talents and enhancing community participation, which confirmed the students ' ability to challenge and succeed.

 

This concluded the activities of the forum, which constituted a new step towards achieving Egypt's Vision 2030 in supporting and empowering people of determination, and providing an inclusive educational and community environment that provides them with equal opportunities for growth and development.