Joint Press Release from the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Education
The Capital University (formerly Helwan University) held its Golden Jubilee celebration to highlight 50 years of academic and artistic achievements and its ambitious plans for a bright future following its name change. The event was attended by Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; Mr. Mohamed Abdel Latif, Minister of Education and Technical Education; Dr. Ibrahim Saber, Governor of Cairo; Dr. El-Sayed Kandil, President of the University; Dr. Mustafa Refaat, Secretary of the Supreme Council of Universities; several university presidents; university vice presidents; a number of leaders from the Ministry of Higher Education; faculty members; and several public figures and students. The celebration took place at the university's Arts and Culture Complex.
At the beginning of the celebration, a documentary film was screened, showcasing the university's history since its founding, the stages it has gone through, and highlighting its distinguished educational and scientific role.
For his part, Dr. Ayman Ashour affirmed that today's celebration of the 50th anniversary of the university's founding, which began as Helwan University and is now known as the Capital University, represents an appreciation of a journey filled with academic and scientific achievements and community service. He praised the university's role in supporting development and building the Egyptian individual, and highlighted the contributions of its graduates, including ministers and officials, in enhancing the standing of Egyptian universities and serving society. He emphasized that this celebration reflects accumulated efforts that have laid the foundation for a promising future.
Dr. Ayman Ashour pointed out that the university has achieved tangible academic and research accomplishments, including developing study programs, enhancing scientific research, and expanding local and international partnerships. He also highlighted its contributions to innovation and serving sustainable development in line with the UAE's Vision 2030. He emphasized that the university's graduates constitute its true wealth, having produced prominent public figures and influential leaders in national and international affairs, including ministers, heads of international organizations, scientists, researchers, doctors, and engineers, in addition to leading figures in media, arts, economics, and management. These individuals embody the university's values of excellence and social responsibility, affirming the success of its mission to prepare leaders capable of driving change and actively contributing to the future.
The Minister of Higher Education affirmed that changing the university's name to Capital University reflects a new strategic vision, building upon a rich academic heritage and looking towards a more open and influential future. This includes the launch of a new visual identity and logo, underscoring the transition to a modern phase focused on innovation, quality, and institutional excellence. The Minister expressed his gratitude to all those who contributed to building the university over the past fifty years, including its leaders, faculty members, researchers, administrators, and students. He emphasized that Capital University, with its distinguished graduates, accumulated achievements, and ambitious vision, is capable of becoming a model for the modern university, a center of creativity and excellence, and an active partner in development and building the future.
For his part, Mr. Mohammed Abdul Latif affirmed that the prestigious Capital University, a towering scientific institution that has served for half a century as a cornerstone of the nation's intellectual renaissance and a shining beacon in the fields of science, arts, and technology, is a testament to this.
The Minister of Education added that the university, throughout its long history, has succeeded in nurturing creative minds and contributing to the public good. It has played a prominent role in enriching society with successive generations of scholars and specialists who have carried the torch of enlightenment and actively contributed to driving development and innovation. This institution remains a renewed symbol of academic leadership, combining the richness of the past with the aspirations of the future.
The Minister of Education expressed his pride and honor on this occasion as a member of this esteemed institution, a university that has been—and continues to be—a source of enlightened thought, a nurturing environment for creativity, and a pioneering institution whose role has not been limited to planting the seeds of knowledge, but has extended to shaping a conscious national character and instilling the values of responsibility.
Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif stated that this celebration holds special significance as it includes a well-deserved tribute to the former leaders of Helwan University, the university presidents who have led it since 1975. This tribute reflects a spirit of loyalty and appreciation, demonstrating that Helwan University is a school of dedication, as well as a firmly established scientific institution that values its pioneers and cherishes its distinguished figures who have raised its banner in all national fields, remaining a model of scholarship, belonging, and contribution.
The Minister of Education added, "As we celebrate fifty years of service today, we reaffirm our conviction that human development is the solid foundation and the beating heart of the new republic's journey, a republic that has made science its methodology, innovation its path, and knowledge its cornerstone. The university has recognized the importance of digital transformation, emphasizing that quality education requires the use of modern technology to deliver knowledge in an interactive way that meets the needs of future generations and enhances Egypt's scientific and academic standing regionally and internationally."
The Minister of Education affirmed that investing in creative minds and the torchbearers of scientific research is the surest bet and the safest bridge to sustainable development, enabling us to shape a future befitting the nation's glorious history and meeting its aspirations.
For his part, Dr. El-Sayed Kandil welcomed the attendees, emphasizing that the university's history extends back to before 1975, with its roots dating back to 1839 with the establishment of technical schools and institutes, before evolving into Helwan University and then the University of the Capital today.
The President of Helwan University explained that the institution has witnessed continuous development, encompassing the establishment of basic technical colleges and then scientific ones, and the expansion into modern specializations such as computer science and biotechnology, culminating in the digital transformation and the launch of more than 100 modern academic programs, including 13 international programs, in addition to research centers of excellence.