UPEI Cairo Campus holds Convocation ceremony on June 9
The University of Prince Edward Island held its Convocation ceremony on June 9 at its campus in New Cairo, Egypt.
The Honourable Diane Griffin, Chancellor of UPEI, presided over the ceremony and bestowed degrees upon 123 graduates in the faculties of Business, Engineering, and Science. Nour Khalil was the Top Achiever in Computer Science; Fatma Nagi was the Top Achiever in Sustainable Design Engineering; and Shakira Topouzzada was the President’s Cup Recipient and Top Achiever in Business Administration.
In her address to the Class of 2024, Chancellor Griffin remarked on her pride in the University and praised the graduates for their resilience and commitment to excellence throughout their education.
“Today marks not only a major milestone for our graduates and their families and friends, but also for our University community. It is a very special honour for me as the new Chancellor to preside at this Convocation at the Cairo campus,” said Griffin. “The University is proud to be offering our students in Egypt the best in higher education.
“As you know, our Class of 2024 has been on a roller coaster ride to reach today’s momentous occasion. You have dealt with a pandemic, political unrest in neighbouring countries, and your own personal challenges. Amid the uncertainty, you carried on, and through it all, you showed an exceptional capacity to learn. I believe that your resilience has been developed in part because of the deeply shared values that UPEI’s community relies on to guide all our behaviour and actions…This disciplinary expertise that you have gained as a result will serve you very well, and when you combine that expertise with the resilience that you have adapted, no challenge will be too great. You all have people who have helped you achieve your goal of being at this convocation here today, but it is actually your own effort that got you across the finish line.”
Dr. Kim Critchley, Provost of the UPEI Cairo Campus, served as master of ceremonies for the convocation. Special guests included H.E. Dr. Abdel Wahab Ezzat, representative of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; His Excellency Louis Dumas, Ambassador of Canada to Egypt; Dr. Ramy Sallam, President of Universities of Canada in Egypt, and Dr. Hadia Hamdy, Vice-President for Academic Services, Universities of Canada Egypt.
Attending from UPEI were Dr. Wayne Peters, Interim Dean, Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering and UPEI Alumni Association representative, and Dr. Tarek Mady, Dean, McDougall Faculty of Business.
Participants from the UPEI Cairo Campus included Dr. Rasha El Shafei, Associate Provost of UPEI Cairo Campus and Associate Dean, Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering; Dr. Ahmed Elsheikh, Associate Dean, Faculty of Mathematical and Computational Sciences; Dr. Nesma Ammar, Associate Dean, Faculty of Business Administration; Dr. Yasmin Abdou, Assistant Professor and Marshal; and Ms. Joumana Maged, UPEI Cairo Campus Alumni Association representative.
Valedictorian Omar Ebrahim, who graduated from the Faculty of Mathematical and Computational Sciences, delivered an inspiring address to his fellow graduates, families, and friends.
“My fellow graduates, everyone from our friends, our doctors, administration, all the way to top management, generally felt like our second family, which made UPEI Cairo Campus our second home,” said Ebrahim. “I will miss the hectic but growth-inducing nature of being an active student, but most importantly, I will miss the amazing privilege of being a UPEI student. While the journey ahead for a lot of us is unknown, it is the beauty within the attempt that will allow us to keep going despite any roadblocks. It is possible along the way that we fail and that will be the result of trying something new. But, if the faith in ourselves is always stronger than our fear, then we are going to be destined for things beyond our wildest imaginations. Congratulations to you all! Let’s go on and make history!”
Following the awarding of their degrees, the graduates received a UPEI pin and card from the UPEI Alumni Association as the newest members of the Panthers-for-Life family.
In 2017, UPEI began discussions to offer an academic program in Egypt after a Canadian parliamentary delegation visited that country to explore establishing a university complex in New Cairo. The initiative is funded entirely the University of Canada, Egypt (UCE) consortium. The UPEI Cairo Campus offers the following degrees: Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design Engineering; Bachelor of Science in Mathematical and Computational Sciences; Bachelor of Business Administration); and Master of Business Administration in Global Leadership. Students in these degree programs learn the same curricula as do those at UPEI’s home campus on Prince Edward Island, and, at the end of their programs, graduate with UPEI degrees.
