⭕In line with Zagazig University's strategic direction towards establishing a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, and enhancing its role in building a knowledge-based economy, the university's innovation system witnessed a growing presence of the Faculty of Specific Education as a key player in the entrepreneurship training camp organized by the university's Entrepreneurship Club in cooperation with the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology. This took place under the auspices of Professor Dr. Khaled El-Darandaly, President of the University, and Professor Dr. Ehab El-Beblawy, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research, and under the supervision of Professor Dr. Ahmed Askarah, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Director of the Entrepreneurship Club.
⭕The entrepreneurship training camp, held from February 8 to 11, 2026, included intensive training tracks covering idea generation through the Ideation Bootcamp, design thinking methodologies, and a simulation of the company establishment environment through Startup Weekend. It also presented a comprehensive applied model aimed at building the capacities of students and researchers in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship. This allowed participating teams to move from the theoretical conception stage to developing viable, implementable, and marketable business models, under the supervision of a select group of experts and specialists.
⭕The events witnessed a remarkable participation from the Faculty of Specific Education, both in terms of judging and the volume of submitted projects. Professor Dr. Yasser Abdel-Aal, Director of the Projects, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and International Ranking Department at the Faculty, participated as a member of the judging panel for the ten qualifying teams at the university level, clearly demonstrating the academic weight the Faculty carries in this vital area.
⭕At the competition level, the Faculty submitted the largest number of participating teams, reflecting the richness and integration of its specializations. The "Golden Fingers Gallery" team participated with a project that invests technical skills in modern production frameworks, with the participation of Professor Dr. Taghreed Barakat, Director of the Training Unit, and a number of researchers and teaching assistants: Ms. Basma Omar Shawky Salem, Ms. Sarah Hassan Imam Abdel-Wahab, Ms. Nourhan Ibrahim Rizk Aboudah, Ms. Mariam Gamal Ahmed Mohamed, and Ms. Rahma Saeed El-Sayed were present. Also in attendance was the "Interactive Book" team, supervised by Professor Dr. Naglaa Saeed, Director of the Innovation Unit, who presented a developmental vision for employing digital technologies to support the educational process. This team included a distinguished group of researchers: Samaa Hamdy Mahmoud Mohamed, Rasha Hassan Mohamed, Alaa El-Sayed Ramadan, Al-Zahraa Ahmed Abdullah, and Mona Abdullah Abdel-Fattah.
⭕The most notable achievement was the "Productive Hands" team's second-place win at the Startup Weekend event within the Ideation Bootcamp – Design Thinking program. Their project, which blends creative industries and entrepreneurship through a platform aimed at supporting and economically empowering artisans, was supervised by Professor Dr. Amani Fawzy, Director of the Projects Unit, and included a distinguished group of researchers from the Art Education Department: Mariam Ahmed Talaat, Alia Kamal El-Sayed, Mai Ahmed Abdel-Razek, Shahd Mahmoud Abdel-Azim, and Iman Ibrahim Qanawi. This experience exemplified the transformation from academic creativity to a scalable and sustainable development project. This advanced presence is an extension of the role played by the College's Projects, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and International Rankings Department, which was launched in September 2025. It comprises a range of specialized units: Entrepreneurship, Projects, Innovation, International Cooperation and International Students, Linking Scientific Research to Industry, and International Rankings. These units work in an integrated manner to nurture ideas, support innovation, and build effective partnerships that connect scientific research with the needs of industry and society. This reflects the College's vision of transforming into a knowledge-producing university that stimulates investment in young minds.
In this context, Professor Dr. Akmal Shawky, Dean of the College, emphasized that the achievements of the participating teams reflect the maturity of the institutional experience in specialized education in the field of supporting entrepreneurship. He pointed out that the College adopts a clear vision for transforming knowledge into added value and empowering students and researchers with the tools to compete in a rapidly changing environment. He added that the administration is committed to providing the supportive infrastructure and scientific incubation that allows promising ideas to be transformed into productive projects with a tangible economic and social impact.
⭕For his part, Professor Dr. Yasser Abdel-Aal explained that the camp represented a high-level applied learning environment, allowing faculty members, administrators, students, and graduates to directly engage with the standards for evaluating entrepreneurial projects and to learn about the mechanisms for building business models according to modern scientific methodologies. He emphasized that the college's participation with such momentum reflects an advanced awareness of the culture of innovation and a genuine ability to compete, stressing that the center will continue to provide technical and advisory support to transform these ideas into startups that contribute to supporting the national economy.
⭕Through these successive successes, the Faculty of Specific Education continues to solidify its position as an academic center of expertise capable of making a difference, and an educational institution that believes that true investment begins with creative individuals capable of transforming ideas into a future that fulfills the state's directions and the goals of Egypt's Vision 2030.