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AUC’s Center of Excellence for Water Participates in Cairo Water Week 2020

For the second year in a row, the Center of Excellence for Water at The American University in Cairo (AUC) is participating in Cairo Water Week (CWW) 2020, one of the most significant water-related events at the national, regional and international levels, organized by the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation. Launched today and held until 22 October, CWW’s theme this year is: “Water Security for Peace and Development in Arid Regions – The Road to Dakar 2021”.  

CWW provides an opportunity to the stakeholders in the water sector, including the Center of Excellence for Water, to enhance their knowledge, communication, and collaboration opportunities.

Yasser ElShayeb, chief of party of the Center of Excellence for Water said that the participation of the Center in the annual Cairo Water Week is a step forward to raise awareness about the Center and enhance cooperation with water stakeholders in Egypt and the world. “During the session dedicated to the Center of Excellence for Water today, we discussed research programs offered by the Center and how the Center of Excellence for Water contributes to water research, education, exchange, and governance in Egypt.”

The topics that were discussed in today’s session included: the Center’s scope of work and current status, research roadmap topics, demand-driven research, professional certification and training modules under development, e-learning for water education, and the exchange and scholarship opportunities provided by the Center. Speakers at the Center of Excellence for Water session included ElShayeb, Essam Shaaban, the technical advisor for the Center of Excellence for Water, Alaa El-Din Adris, associate provost for research, innovation and creativity at AUC, in addition to several professors from various universities.

Iman Sayed, chairman of the organizing committee and executive director of CWW, said that Cairo Water Week always values the strategic partnership with AUC’s Center of Excellence for Water. “This distinguished Center aims at conducting joint scientific research, training and qualifying scientific cadres, and establishing joint scientific programs and advisory centers, a scope of work that is in line with the national strategy of Egypt’s Sustainable Development Strategy and Vision 2030, highlighting AUC’s great role in developing higher education and scientific research in Egypt," she said.

AUC was awarded the Center of Excellence for Water, which was established at Alexandria University in September 2019 and funded by USAID. The Center was established in cooperation with a large consortium of US and Egyptian Universities, US and Egyptian private sector companies, and several ministries and public entities in Egypt. The Center of Excellence for Water is designed to be a modern applied research center, located within the premises of Alexandria University, connecting Egyptian industries, research centers, and ministries. The Center aims to improve water curricula' relevance and quality and develop effective and innovative teaching methods for undergraduates, graduates, and water engineering professionals. It also aims to elevate water-related research capacities and produce market-driven research products, contributing to Egypt’s Sustainable Development Strategy and Vision 2030.

The also seeks to build partnerships with the business sector and the private sector, through several MOUs with the Holding Company for Water and Wastewater, the Sierra Engineering and Manufacturing Company among other institutions.

Adris said that the "Center of Excellence for Water won't be fulfilling its mandate without interacting and aligning with the private Sector, the public sector and the regulator. Cairo Water Week is giving this opportunity for all to meet, discuss, and dream of a future where science leads the way solving our water challenges".  

From the Government of Egypt, the project is supported by the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and Research, the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, the Alexandria and Beni Sweif Governorates, the National Research Center, the Center for Metallurgical Research and Development Institute, the National Water Research Center, and the Water Desalination Alliance.

The Consortium of the project includes several prestigious US and Egyptian universities:  University of California at Santa Cruz, Utah State University, Washington State University, Temple University, Ain Shams University, Aswan University, Beni Suef University and Zagazig University. The Consortium also includes several US and Egyptian private sector companies and NGOs: SEKEM Group, Lotus Company, Demerdash Group, Engazaat Development, and the NGO IBSAR, as well as AECOM, Amriton LLC, Apogee Instruments, Carollo Engineers, FREDsense Technologies, Purolite Corporation and Waters Corporation.

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Founded in 1919, The American University in Cairo (AUC) is a leading English-language, American- accredited institution of higher education and center of the intellectual, social, and cultural life of the Arab world. It is a vital bridge between East and West, linking Egypt and the region to the world through scholarly research, partnerships with academic and research institutions and study abroad programs. 

The University offers 39 undergraduate, 52 master’s and two PhD programs rooted in a liberal arts education that encourages students to think critically and find creative solutions to conflicts and challenges facing both the region and the world. 

An independent, nonprofit, politically non-partisan, non-sectarian and equal opportunity institution, AUC is fully accredited in Egypt and the United States.