Mansoura University signs the renewal of a cooperation protocol with AMIDEAST to extend joint cooperation with the service center of students with disabilities at the university

Prof. Cherif Youssef Khater, President of Mansoura University, and Dr. Quincy Dermody, Director of the Public Universities Scholarship Program at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), signed the renewal of a cooperation protocol with AMIDEAST to extend joint cooperation with the service center of students with disabilities at the university, through the grants program in public universities within the Higher Education Initiative.

The signing ceremony of the renewal of the agreement was witnessed by Prof. Muhammad Attia Al-Bayoumi, Vice President for Education and Student Affairs, Prof. Tarek Ghalwash, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research, Dr. Dina Mohsen, Deputy Director of the Public Universities Scholarship Program and responsible for the disability program, and Prof. Nevine Abdel Khalek, Director of the service center of students with disabilities at the university.

Prof. Cherif Youssef Khater praised the cooperation with AMIDEAST and that the center is an important step added to Mansoura University in achieving its vision and strategic plan towards supporting students with disabilities and integrating them with their peers. Stressing the university's keenness to provide the appropriate environment for them and availability within the university and to provide all means of support to create the appropriate educational environment while providing them with appropriate tools and techniques that help them obtain knowledge, the university also supported its students with local and international competitions and students were able to achieve advanced positions at the global and local levels, and other awards achieved by students in the name of the university.

Prof. Mohamed Attia Al-Bayoumi said that the signing of the agreement to extend the joint cooperation with AMIDEAST aims to develop the skills of students with disabilities and integrate them into society through the implementation of several training programs, workshops and activities provided by the center, as well as providing training for the center's staff, enabling them to assess needs and develop an action plan for the advancement of the center.

Dr. Quincy Dermody, Director of the Public University Scholarships Program at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), explained that the Authority is committed to evaluating the accessibility of students with disabilities at the center's headquarters, providing the necessary guidance to make it more accessible, preparing conferences on disability, marketing the center, in addition to arranging visits to the United States of America to support the center's staff and students, and enhance their managerial skills.

Dr. Dina Mohsen, Deputy Director of the Public Universities Scholarship Program and responsible for the disability program, said that the center's goal is focused on people with disabilities to obtain their full rights, integrate with society, practice all activities, and provide them with the necessary facilities during the educational process, noting that the authority is in the process of developing action plans and programs aimed at developing capabilities and enabling the sustainability process of the center.

Mansoura University was selected among 15 government universities selected to establish a center to serve students with disabilities within the university, and the establishment of the 15 centers is part of the public universities scholarship program of the US-Egyptian Higher Education Initiative to serve the academic, physical and societal needs of students with disabilities on campus and promote equality in access to higher education for people with disabilities within universities.