The Council of the Faculty of Specific Education at Zagazig University Strengthens Development, Quality, and Innovation and Approves a Package of Decisions to Support Education, Scientific Research, and Academic Programs
As part of the Faculty of Specific Education at Zagazig University’s commitment to continuously developing its academic and administrative operations, enhancing the quality of teaching and research, and keeping pace with rapid changes in specialized fields, the Faculty Council held its 201st meeting on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. The meeting was held under the patronage of Professor Khaled El-Derindly, President of Zagazig University; Professor Ehab El-Beblawy, Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Research; Professor Helal Afifi, Vice President for Education and Student Affairs; and Professor Hanan El-Nahhas, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development.
The meeting was chaired by Professor Akmal Shawky Gaballah, Dean of the Faculty and Chair of the Council, and attended by the Faculty’s vice deans, heads of academic departments, and Council members. It took place in the Faculty Council meeting room.
1. Welcoming Council Members and Recognizing Contributions
The Council opened its proceedings by welcoming its members, including Professor Hassan Ahmed Hassan Rabie, former Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture; Professor Ahmed Mahmoud Abdel-Moaty Hussein, Deputy Governor of Sharqia; and Doaa Zakaria Aliwa, Director General of Executive Affairs at the Sharqia Directorate of Education. Their participation reflected the Faculty’s commitment to strengthening communication with academic and executive experts whose work is relevant to its fields of specialization.
The Council also congratulated the Egyptian people on the glorious October victories, emphasizing the importance of remembering the values of giving, national belonging, and pride in the homeland.
Furthermore, the Council expressed appreciation for the efforts of faculty members and supporting institutions in advancing the Faculty’s activities and improving its working environment. It recognized Professor Ahmed Hussein, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, for his fruitful cooperation in supporting development and maintenance projects at the Faculty.
The Council also commended Professor Yasser Abdel-Aal, Director of the Center for Projects, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, and Dr. Naglaa Saeed, in recognition of the success of the “Smart Interactive Book” project as a startup initiative in the Smart Green Projects competition and qualification program at the governorate level.
The Council extended its congratulations to Mohamed Fekry, Director of the Faculty of Specific Education, wishing him continued success.
2. Raising Students’ Awareness and Promoting Academic Programs
The Council directed the heads of academic departments and its members to emphasize to faculty members and other Faculty affiliates the importance of beginning lectures with a brief introduction addressing current national affairs and raising awareness of the importance of protecting the homeland.
These introductions should also cover the general requirements of the University and the Faculty and must not exceed five minutes. The Council further emphasized the importance of informing students about the academic programs offered by the Faculty.
This approach reflects a comprehensive educational vision that extends beyond academic instruction to include developing students’ personalities and strengthening their awareness of their responsibilities toward their country and educational institution.
3. Discussion of Appointing New Teaching Assistants
As part of its commitment to developing young academic talent and benefiting from outstanding Faculty graduates, the Council discussed the memorandum concerning the appointment of new teaching assistants following the approval of the summer semester results.
The proposed appointments concern specializations experiencing staff shortages and are to be selected from among graduates of the 2025/2026 graduating cohort.
The list of candidates included top-performing graduates from several specializations and academic programs, including Classroom Teacher Education and Community Education, Home Economics, Music Education, Art Education, Educational Technology and Computer Science, Educational Media, and other relevant fields.
These appointments aim to meet the staffing needs of academic departments and programs and ensure the continued availability of qualified academic personnel.
4. The Seventh Scientific Conference and New Academic Programs
The Council discussed holding the Faculty’s Seventh Scientific Conference during the mid-year vacation of the academic year, on the University campus. This reflects the Faculty’s commitment to providing academic platforms for dialogue, exchanging expertise, and discussing developments in the fields of Specific Education.
The Council also discussed matters related to new academic programs. It approved the minutes of the New Programs Committee and reviewed and approved the bachelor’s degree results for fee-based new programs for the summer semester of the 2025/2026 academic year.
Additionally, the Council considered applications concerning student transfers, tuition exemptions, and academic fees. These included a request for tuition exemption submitted on behalf of a student who is a child of a martyr or an injured person, as well as applications for changes of registration and transfers between programs and specializations.
The Council also reviewed financial entitlements related to teaching, academic advising, e-learning, examinations, examination control, invigilation, and marking for several new programs, including the English Language Teacher Education Program for Early Grades and Community Education, the Computer Teacher Education Program for Students with Disabilities, and the Educational Technology Specialist Program for Students with Disabilities.
5. Quality Assurance and Educational Affairs
As part of its continued support for the Faculty’s quality assurance system, the Council discussed and approved the minutes of the Quality Assurance Board meeting, reaffirming the integration of academic operations with quality assurance procedures and institutional development.
The Council also reviewed and approved bachelor’s degree results for general and new programs for the summer semester. In addition, it approved the specialization-placement results for second-year students and students progressing to the third year in several programs.
Reports submitted by committees monitoring the educational process in general and new programs during the first semester of the 2026/2027 academic year were also considered.
The discussions further covered course-equivalency assessments, known as academic credit evaluations, for students in advanced years across several departments, along with student requests concerning tuition fees and transfers. These measures aim to maintain the regularity of the educational process and address students’ needs in accordance with applicable regulations.
6. Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research
Postgraduate studies and scientific research formed a significant part of the Council’s agenda.
The Council approved the minutes of the Postgraduate Studies and Research Committee and discussed the approval of postgraduate results for the summer semester of the 2025/2026 academic year, including the awarding of degrees to students who had successfully completed their respective programs.
The Council also discussed amendments to certain provisions of the 2023 Postgraduate Studies Regulations. These amendments aim to ensure consistency between the regulations, graduation requirements, and procedures for evaluating academic theses, thereby strengthening the regulatory framework governing academic and research activities.
The Council emphasized the necessity of submitting semiannual progress reports for students across all programs and academic departments. This requirement supports continuous monitoring of research progress and enables the periodic assessment of researchers’ achievements.
7. The Educational Technology Department’s Annual Conference
The Council approved holding the annual conference of the Department of Educational Technology for the 2026/2027 academic year on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, under the title:
“Innovative Visions in Educational Technology: Leading Digital Transformation and Empowering Artificial Intelligence.”
The Council also discussed various research topics and academic registrations across multiple fields, including the use of modern technology and innovation in education, smart textiles and zero-waste production, mental health, special education, Arabic music, and digital media.
The discussions included master’s and doctoral research in educational sciences, psychology, and media. These studies aim to address contemporary educational, psychological, social, and media-related issues; develop the skills of target groups; improve their psychological and social adjustment; and examine the influence of digital platforms and foreign television drama on adolescents and the associated cultural dimensions.
This range of topics reflects the diversity and integration of the Faculty’s research interests and its commitment to supporting scientific studies that respond to community needs and contemporary developments.
8. Awarding Master’s and Doctoral Degrees
As part of its follow-up on researchers’ academic progress, the Council approved the awarding of several master’s and doctoral degrees in different specializations.
The approved awards included four master’s degrees in Educational Technology, Technical Sciences, Drawing and Painting, and Childhood Studies, in addition to several doctoral degrees in Arabic Music, Educational Technology and Information, Journalism and Electronic Publishing, and other specializations.
These degrees were awarded based on the recommendations of the relevant examination and thesis evaluation committees.
The Council also discussed extending registration periods for certain master’s and doctoral researchers in accordance with their research progress and the applicable regulations. This allows researchers to complete their academic work within the established regulatory framework and reinforces the importance of monitoring thesis preparation and research completion rates.
9. Libraries, Academic Committees, and Departmental Meetings
The Council reviewed the minutes of the Scientific and Cultural Relations Committees, Laboratories and Facilities Committees, and Library Committee. It approved the Library Committee’s minutes and accepted the donation of several academic theses to the Faculty Library, including three master’s theses and six doctoral dissertations submitted by Faculty members and researchers.
The Council subsequently reviewed and approved the minutes of the departmental councils for Home Economics, Music Education, Art Education, Educational Technology, Educational Media, and Educational and Psychological Sciences.
10. Proposed Program in Creative Arts and Entrepreneurship
Within the field of Art Education, the Council considered a notable proposal to establish an academic and practical program operating under the credit-hour system, entitled “Creative Arts and Entrepreneurship.”
A committee was formed to prepare the proposed program regulations. The initiative seeks to create new opportunities for linking artistic creativity with entrepreneurship and developing applied academic pathways.
The Council also discussed matters related to academic work and faculty secondments, supporting scientific cooperation and the exchange of expertise between the Faculty and other educational institutions.
Additional matters concerned leave requests submitted by faculty members and assistant academic staff, in accordance with applicable rules and regulations, alongside various administrative and academic issues affecting departmental operations.
11. Admission Regulations for Students with Disabilities
Among the matters presented for information, the Council reviewed a ministerial decision concerning amendments to the academic regulations, particularly the provision addressing the admission of technical diploma students enrolled under the educational integration system.
This reflects the commitment to making educational pathways accessible to eligible groups in accordance with approved regulatory frameworks.
12. Statement by the Faculty Dean
Professor Akmal Shawky Gaballah, Dean of the Faculty of Specific Education and Chair of the Faculty Council, stated that the diversity of issues discussed reflects the considerable effort being devoted to developing the Faculty’s educational, research, and administrative systems.
He emphasized that the current phase requires continued teamwork, improved performance quality, support for academic programs, encouragement of scientific research and innovation, attention to students’ needs, and monitoring of the regularity of the educational process.
He also explained that the Faculty is continuing to develop its programs and academic pathways in line with rapid changes in knowledge and technology. The Faculty remains committed to providing a supportive educational and research environment for students, researchers, and faculty members.
He stressed the importance of coordination among departments, units, and committees in achieving the Faculty’s objectives and establishing a culture of quality and institutional excellence.
The Dean further praised the efforts of faculty members, administrative staff, and the Faculty’s academic and executive partners, emphasizing that progress results from collective work and sustained cooperation. He noted that the coming period would build on existing achievements in support of the Faculty’s mission and the objectives of Zagazig University.
13. Conclusion
The 201st meeting of the Faculty Council at the Faculty of Specific Education, Zagazig University, reflected the broad scope of the Faculty’s responsibilities across its various operational areas. These included monitoring the educational process, approving academic results and new programs, advancing quality assurance and academic development, supporting postgraduate studies and scientific research, awarding academic degrees, encouraging innovation, establishing new programs, strengthening academic cooperation, and developing institutional infrastructure.
The Council’s outcomes demonstrate that development at the Faculty of Specific Education is not limited to a single area. Rather, it is based on an integrated system combining educational quality, strong scientific research, innovation, academic program development, student support, and institutional collaboration.
This integrated approach strengthens the Faculty’s capacity to respond to future requirements and reinforces its role as an educational institution committed to producing knowledge and preparing specialized graduates equipped with the skills needed for competitiveness, creativity, and community service.
Through the continued work of its councils and academic committees, the Faculty of Specific Education continues to pursue greater quality and excellence, drawing on its academic and administrative expertise and a clear vision that places continuous development, scientific research, and innovation at the center of its efforts to build a more competitive and influential future.
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