Egypt’s Minister of Social Solidarity,Dr. Maya Morsy, led the closing ceremony of the START Summit, celebrating the achievements of social solidarity units across Egyptian universities during the 2024–2025 academic year. The event spotlighted youth engagement, institutional partnerships, and the national strategy to support students through targeted social development.
The summit, hosted in collaboration with university leaders, civil society actors, and private sector representatives, gathered more than 16,000 students from 32 universities to highlight the importance of volunteerism, training, and social empowerment.
Universities, Coordinators, and Volunteers Honored for Excellence
In a gesture of appreciation, Dr. Morsy honored the participating universities, outstanding volunteers, and top program coordinators who played pivotal roles in the success of the Social Solidarity Units Project.
Plaques of recognition were awarded to:
- University leaders including Dr. Dina Abou Zeid (6 October University), Dr. Said Allam (Alexandria University), and others representing Cairo, Benha, Al-Azhar, South Valley, Suez, and more.
- Private sector partners, notably Osama El-Sayed, Vice Chair of Nasser Social Bank, and Dr. Sami Abdel Rahim, Economic Empowerment Director at Sawiris Foundation for Social Development.
12 New Units in Technological Universities
A landmark cooperation protocol was signed by Dr. Mohamed El-Akaby, Assistant Minister and General Supervisor of the Project and Dr. Ahmed El-Gioushy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Technological Education. The signing ceremony took place during the summit between the Ministry of Social Solidarity and the Supreme Council for Technological Education, aiming to establish 12 new social solidarity units in technological
This brings the total number of units to 42, with a vision to serve every student nationwide. The new units will operate under principles of:
- Human right to development
- Institutional collaboration
- Data privacy and transparency
These units will act as hubs for student support, offering access to training, social services, and internship opportunities, aligning with Egypt’s Vision 2030 goals for social equity and human development.
START Summit Platform
Dr. Morsy also announced the launch of the new START digital platform, which will act as an interactive space for university students to access online training and internships with partner companies.
Given the high demand—over 16,000 students applied for training in 2024—the ministry will now hold the START Summit twice a year in Cairo, alongside local events in various campuses.
The Ministry’s investment in student-centered programming reflects a long-term commitment to integrated human development and social justice in higher education. Through collaborations with universities, the private sector, and civil society, Egypt is equipping its students with the tools to lead, innovate, and give back.
