In an achievement reflecting the active presence of the Faculty of Specific Education at Zagazig University in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship, and under the patronage of His Excellency Professor Dr. Khaled El-Darandaly, President of Zagazig University, and His Excellency Professor Dr. Ehab El-Biblawy, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research, the "Productive Hands" team won second place in the Startup Weekend event within the Ideation Bootcamp – Design Thinking program. This program was organized by the university's Entrepreneurship Club in cooperation with the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, and took place from February 8th to 11th, 2026, at the Center for Project Management, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and International Ranking.
The team's award recognizes their innovative project, which blends art and entrepreneurship through a digital platform. This platform aims to support and market handmade products and empower artisans economically, serving as an applied model that reflects the ability of the faculty's students and researchers to transform ideas into practical, implementable solutions that address market needs and contribute to development plans. The team was formed under the supervision of Professor Dr. Amani Fawzy, Professor of Metalwork and Jewelry and Director of the Projects Unit at the college. Her scientific and administrative support was instrumental in developing the project idea and shaping it into a distinctive and competitive form. Researchers from the Department of Art Education also participated: Mariam Ahmed Talaat, Alia Kamal El-Sayed, Mai Ahmed Abdel-Razek, Shahd Mahmoud Abdel-Azim, and Iman Ibrahim Qanawi.
The training camp featured intensive sessions on idea generation, design thinking, and business model building, led by a select group of innovation experts. The activities concluded with a judging panel of specialized academic committees, all of whom praised the professional level of the presentations and the college team's vision, which combined originality with a developmental focus.
In this context, Professor Dr. Akmal Shawky, Dean of the Faculty of Specific Education, expressed his pride in this achievement, emphasizing that the "Productive Hands" award truly embodies the faculty's philosophy of linking academic education with practical application and opening new horizons for students and researchers to engage in entrepreneurship and creative industries. He added that the faculty places great importance on supporting ideas that can be transformed into productive projects, thus contributing to preparing graduates who possess the tools to compete and are capable of effectively contributing to the national economy.
He affirmed that this excellence did not come about by chance, but is the fruit of a stimulating educational environment, integrated roles between academic departments and support units, and a constant commitment to discovering young talents and guiding them towards paths of innovation.
The Faculty of Specific Education reaffirms its commitment to continuing to support its creative students and promote a culture of self-employment and initiative, believing that Zagazig University is not only an institution of education but also an incubator for ideas capable of shaping the future.