[:en]Heliopolis University is your path to make the world a better place[:ar]جامعة هليوبوليس هي طريقك لجعل العالم مكانا أفضل[:]

[:en]Graduation Picture of Ahmed Refaat

Ahmed Refaat is one of the most familiar faces and often seen across the campus of Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development. Probably, that is because he is the head of the students union, but also because he is one of the most active students at Heliopolis University. Ahmed Refaat, the “pharmacist to be”. He is proud of his achievements and shows us a big smile. The 23-years-old is a senior student at the faculty of Pharmacy at Heliopolis University and is looking forward to his graduation within a few months.
His story with the University began with a coincidence. While reciting it, an obvious excitement and passion pop up in his voice.

Changing direction brings new chances

On their way to apply to another university, Ahmed and his father noticed the signboard of Heliopolis University on the road. “At that moment, I decided to change our direction and go there to check it,” Ahmed recalls. “At Heliopolis University, I found a unique atmosphere – green areas everywhere with a special landscape architecture.” Also Mr. Refaat, Ahmed’s father became confident about how suitable the Heliopolis University would be for his son. “He was very excited about it, when he knew that Dr. Abouleish is the founder,” the senior student recounts. “Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish is well-known in Europe as one of the leaders in sustainable development. My father heard a lot about him during his stay there” he says.

Leading the student union for two years

“It is not only about the system that differs Heliopolis University from others. It is the way that we, as students find support and chances here,” the committed student states. Ahmed has been the president of the students union for two years in a row. Besides, he participated in huge projects supported by the university, “which pushed me more to work on myself,” Ahmed asserts. “Especially, the core program has made me learn how to be a better version of myself,” Ahmed tells while explaining how everyone in his close circle had noticed this change since his enrollment at Heliopolis University. “Accordingly, all credit goes to the core program and its holistic vision,” says the passionate student, who spent almost five years studying at the Heliopolis University. The Core program of Heliopolis University is part of the courses dedicated to sustainable development, which is introduced all the students. Through the core program, the university fosters cultural and social education. Ahmed Refaat aims to serve his community and to develop it sustainably: following the vision of Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish. With deep gratefulness he says: “I wish that all students at Heliopolis University could really value and appreciate what the university is offering. And hence, that they would contribute efficiently to realize the vision of sustainability for us and the world.”

Marwa Nagib

[:ar]Graduation Picture of Ahmed Refaat

أحمد رفعت هو واحد من الوجوه المألوفة و الاكثر رؤية في حرم جامعة هليوبوليس للتنمية المستدامة.ربما، لأنه هو رئيس اتحاد الطلاب، أو  لأنه واحد من أكثر الطلاب نشاطا في جامعة هليوبوليس. يبلغ احمد رفعت أربع وعشرون سنة من العمر و هو طالب رفيع المستوى في كلية الصيدلة بجامعة هليوبوليس، ويتطلع إلى تخرجه في غضون بضعة أشهر.ولقد بدأت قصة احمد في جامعة هليوبوليس بمصادفة.

التغيير يجلب فرص جديدة

وعندما كان أحمد ووالده في الطريق للتقدم إلى جامعة أخرى، لاحظ أحمد وأبيه لافتة جامعة هليوبوليس على الطريق. وقال أحمد: “في تلك اللحظة، قررت تغيير اتجاهنا والذهاب إلى هناك”.في جامعة هليوبوليس، وجدت أجواء فريدة من نوعها – المناطق الخضراء في كل مكان و المناظر الطبيعية الخلابة. أيضا السيد رفعت، والد أحمد أصبح واثقا حول مدى ملاءمة جامعة هليوبوليس لابنه.كان متحمسا جدا لذلك، عندما علم أن الدكتور أبو العيش هو مؤسس الجامعة لقد سمع والدي الكثير عنه خلال إقامته في أوروبا حيث أن الدكتور. إبراهيم أبو العيش معروف في أوروبا باعتباره واحدا من رواد التنمية المستدامة.

رئيس اتحاد الطلاب لمدة عامين

“ليس فقط النظام الذي يجعل جامعة هليوبوليس مختلفة عن غيرها من الجامعات,و لكن أيضا الطريقة التي يجد الطلاب عن طريقها الدعم والفرص المتنوعة, ”  هيئة اتحاد الطلاب . وكان أحمد رئيسا لاتحاد الطلبة لمدة عامين متتاليين. بالإضافة إلى ذلك، شارك في مشاريع ضخمة بدعم من الجامعة .ويؤكد أحمد أن البرنامج الأساسي دفعة للتعلم والاعتماد على الذات . إن البرنامج الأساسي لجامعة هليوبوليس هو جزء من الدورات المخصصة للتنمية المستدامة، والتي يتم تقديمها لجميع الطلاب. ومن خلال البرنامج الأساسي، تعزز الجامعة التربية الثقافية والاجتماعية. يسعي  أحمد رفعت إلى خدمة مجتمعه وتطويره بشكل مستدام وذلك باتباع رؤية  الدكتور إبراهيم أبو العيش والذي كان  يقول: “أتمنى أن جميع الطلاب في جامعة هليوبوليس يقدرون قيمة ما تقدمه الجامعة. ومن ثم، فإنها ستسهم بكفاءة لتحقيق رؤية الاستدامة بالنسبة لنا وللعالم “

مروة نجيب

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MED-WET Partners Participate in Fundão Agricultural Innovation Fair, October 2024, Portugal

[:en] The MED-WET partners, including the team from Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development, had the opportunity to showcase their excellent results at the Fundão Agricultural Innovation Fair, held during (9-13) October 2024 in Portugal. This event provided a wonderful platform to widely share the project’s advancements, exchange insights, and engage with various international stakeholders in the water, energy and agricultural sectors. During the fair, the HUSD team actively participated in a parallel conference, where they delivered in-depth presentations and speech covering the MED-WET’s goals, achievements, and importance in advancing sustainable water management for climate-resilient agriculture among the rural and desert communities. At the heart of their presence was the MED-WET stand, which attracted significant attention of the majority of participants. It served as a focal point for information dissemination, providing an interactive space where farmers, agricultural experts, policymakers, and researchers could learn more about the project’s innovative approaches to water conservation and irrigation technology in arid regions. The stand featured detailed explanations of the project’s outcomes, including key findings and 3-D prototypes of the three technologies “Constructed Wetlands in Sekem El-Wahat, Solar energy-driven desalination for greenhouse agriculture in Malta and the SLECI Irrigation technology in Portugal and Morocco”. This obviously proven the MED-WET’s success in realizing efficient water management practices that contributed to sustainable farming and addressed water scarcity challenges in the Mediterranean region. Overall, the Fundão Agricultural Innovation Fair was a highly productive experience for all participants. It allowed the MED-WET team to expand their network, raise awareness about the critical issue of water scarcity, and underscore the project’s role in promoting sustainable agricultural practices across the Mediterranean region. The fair highlighted the increasing importance of collaborative efforts in addressing water conservation and irrigation challenges in agriculture, reinforcing the relevance of the MED-WET initiative. [:]

[:en]Showcasing the Med-Wet Project: Partners Participated in the Euro-Mediterranean Innovation Marketplace in Cairo[:]

[:en] One of the Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development’s successful research projects called “MED-WET” is selected among the top successful and highest performing 20 EU–Prima projects worldwide this year 2024. An international conference and fair was conducted on 3 Oct., 2024 in Cairo organized by Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) in association with the European Commission (EC) office in Cairo. In which, a team from HUSD and MED-WET’s partner countries from Malta and Germany presented the key results of the MED-WET project, including the successfully developed three technologies (Constructed Wetlands in Sekem El-Wahat, Solar energy-driven desalination for greenhouse agriculture in Malta and the SLECI Irrigation technology in Portugal and Morocco). That mega event allowed HUSD to showcase the innovative solution of the low-cost, low-energy and nature-based “Instream Constructed Wetland” model addressing water challenges and climate change in the Mediterranean. Such innovations aim to conserve water, improve irrigation efficiency and tackle water scarcity (climate-resilient agriculture). The marketplace offered meaningful exchanges with international partners. HUSD’s team discussed potential collaborations with stakeholders who are interested in new research projects, which will help further amplify the impact of the Med-Wet project. The conversations done with promising future partners underscored the importance of cross-border cooperation and innovation in addressing complex environmental challenges, on the top of them “water scarcity and climate change”. [:]

[:en]Announcement: Heliopolis University Low Carbon Energy Report Released![:]

[:en]Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development is proud to announce the release of our latest report on Low Carbon Energy Usage across campus! This report highlights our commitment to a greener future by measuring the amount of low-carbon energy utilized in our operations. Through this analysis, we’re taking bold steps toward sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint. Key Highlights: A detailed breakdown of renewable energy sources powering our campus Insights on energy efficiency improvements across our facilities Actionable goals for expanding clean energy use in the coming years Together, we’re paving the way for a more sustainable and energy-efficient future. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this report possible! Stay tuned for more updates as we continue working towards a 100% low-carbon campus! #HeliopolisUniversity #SustainableFuture #LowCarbonEnergy #CleanEnergy See the report here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/122aDtID_M3wxZSzZnKuzx-VcHolUbxh5/view?usp=sharing[:]