The Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Aswan University has achieved a remarkable scientific feat, with its students securing top places in the largest waste management competition amongst Egyptian universities. This outstanding achievement underscores the Faculty’s commitment to supporting its students’ ideas and research projects in the field of entrepreneurship, and to linking scientific research with the pressing needs of society.
The competition was organised under the auspices of the Fund for the Support of Innovators and Talented Individuals, in collaboration with the Institute for Leadership Development in Helwan, and under the patronage of Prof. Dr Mohamed Abdelaziz Mahallal, Acting Vice-Chancellor of Aswan University; Dr Ashraf Imam, Vice-Chancellor for Community Service and Environmental Development; and Prof. Dr Mohamed Ahmed Abu al-Lail, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Following the judging and evaluation of the projects, in which twenty teams participated, the “Pome Care” team, comprising students from the Faculty of Agriculture, won first place, whilst the “Eco Campus AI” team came second and the “Compo Aswan” team came third, amidst widespread praise for the scientific and creative calibre of the projects submitted.
The faculty held a ceremony to honour the winning students, attended by academic leaders, teaching staff and students. The winning teams were announced following the completion of the training and assessment stages, as part of efforts to support innovative and practical ideas in the field of sustainable waste management.
This competition represents a golden opportunity for Egyptian universities, with substantial cash prizes totalling 200,000 Egyptian pounds for first place, 150,000 Egyptian pounds for second place, and 100,000 Egyptian pounds for third place, in addition to specialised incubation, training and mentoring programmes to transform the winning ideas into competitive start-ups capable of contributing to the national economy.
In this context, Professor Dr Mohamed Ahmed Abu Al-Lail, Dean of the Faculty, emphasised the university’s full support for students and its commitment to removing obstacles that prevent them from presenting their ideas. He highlighted the importance of the entrepreneurship workshops he oversees, which equip students with project management skills and serve as a source of inspiration for them to shape their academic and professional futures. He noted that this achievement serves as an incentive for other students to participate and submit innovative projects that contribute to environmental development and sustainability. He expressed his delight and pride at the Faculty’s students winning first and second place, wishing them further success.
For his part, Dr Mohamed Abdelaziz Mahallal, Acting Vice-Chancellor of Aswan University, emphasised that the university is guided by a clear vision based on investing in creative minds, as these represent the true wealth for building the future, noting that supporting innovation and entrepreneurship is one of the university’s strategic priorities in line with Egypt’s Vision 2030.
Dr Ashraf Imam, Vice-Chancellor for Community Service and Environmental Development, explained that the community service sector plays a pivotal role in translating the outcomes of scientific research into practical applications, emphasising that genuine development begins with transforming ideas into applications and projects that serve the community and support the economy.
Dr Mahmoud Abdel-Aziz Bastawi explained that the university is entering a new phase in promoting a culture of innovation and sustainability, noting that waste management has become one of the most important areas of green investment, and that the participating student projects have demonstrated the ability of Egyptian youth to provide innovative and practical solutions, thereby strengthening the role of universities in serving the community and achieving sustainable development.
Dr Ahmed Mustafa Aweis, Director of the Fund for the Support of Innovators and Talented Students at Aswan University, noted that the Fund continues to fulfil its mission of discovering and nurturing talented and innovative individuals by providing technical and financial support, as well as incubation and mentoring programmes, emphasising that outstanding ideas form the nucleus of promising development projects and start-ups that achieve tangible economic and social impact.
The events concluded with commemorative photographs being taken with the winning students, thereby reaffirming Aswan University’s tireless efforts to foster a culture of innovation and channel the energy of young people into pioneering projects that contribute to building a more sustainable and prosperous future for Egypt.
