About Us
The Adult Literacy Education Centre in Ain Shams University (ASU) is the first adult education centre in Egypt, established in 2001. The Center holds conferences and seminars and publishes a regular journal on adult education. Adult literacy facilitator training is also provided by the Center in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, preparing youth through organising pre-training courses. Recent projects have investigated life skills for literacy and the role of universities in developing adult literacy.
Vision
The partnership established between Ain Shams University and the UNESCO Chair in Adult Literacy and Learning for Social Transformation goes in line with the constant efforts devoted by ASU to enhance the development of Egyptian society. ASU believes that lifelong learning is a key principle that directs and regulates all forms of education, which in turn leads to sustainable development initiated and completed by individuals.
Activities and plans
The activities of the Adult Education Center at Ain Shams University aim to contribute to the wider society by integrating specialised research and training in the area of adult literacy and lifelong learning. The Center holds conferences and seminars and publishes a regular journal on adult education. An international seminar on ‘Literacy, Women’s Empowerment and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda’ was organized in July 2017 to mark the launch of the Ain Shams UNESCO Chair initiative, bringing together key researchers and policy makers working in adult literacy in Egypt. Adult literacy facilitator training is also provided by the Center in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, preparing youth through organising pre-training courses. Recent projects have investigated life skills for literacy and the role of universities in developing adult literacy. Under the leadership of Dr. Moheb Kamel El Rafey, the team conducted pioneering ethnographic research in 2013-14 on the IFAD-UNESCO research project, Learning Knowledge and Skills for Agriculture to Improve Rural Livelihoods. Future UNESCO Chair plans include a writing-for- publication programme and action research on women’s literacy and health.
Dr. Islam Al-Saeed
Dr. Islam Muhammad Al-Saeed Ibrahim is a university teacher in the Faculty of Education at Ain Shams University (ASU) Department of Foundations of Education. He is Director of the Centre of Adult Education at ASU and editor of New Horizons in Adult Education, the journal published by the Centre of Adult Education. Dr. Islam is a member of the central committee for training in the Central Authority of Adult Education “Presidency of the Council of Ministries”. Also Associate member in the Higher Coordination Committee of the Arab Contract for Literacy and Adult Education 2015-2024, league of Arab States. He is a certified instructor from Ain Shams University as well as from the Professional Academy of Teaching.
Dr. Ashour Amry
Dr. Ashour Ahmed Amry is Head of the General Authority of Adult Education in Egypt and teacher in the Department of Foundation of Education at the Faculty of Education at Ain Shams University (ASU). He has had long experiences in this department since he graduated and worked as a teaching assistant then completed his postgraduate studies then carried out several scientific tasks. He held several positions including the Director of General Adult Education at ASU; Secretariat of Department of Foundation of Education and General secretary of the Arab Union for lifelong learning. Dr. Ashour contributed to some specialized tasks: Chairman of Higher Coordinating Committee of the Arab Contract for Literacy at the General Secretariat of the league of Arab States; Member of the Arab Network for literacy and Adult Education in the league of Arab States; Editor of the journal New Horizons in Adult Education. He successfully completed the training course of Adult Education from the regional center of Adult Education at ASU.
Professor Moheb Kamel El Rafei
Professor Moheb Kamel El Rafei is currently working in the field of environmental education at the Environmental Studies Institute, Ain Shams University. He recently served as the Minister of Education in Egypt and was previously the head of the General Institution of Adult Education.
Professor Gihan Camal
Professor Gihan Camal is General Director of the local Centre of Educational and Development Research. She is a professor of teaching methods and the coordinator of projects on Education for All in Egypt.
Dr. Reda Muhammed AbdulSenar Attia
Dr. Reda Muhammed AbdulSenar Attia is Assistant Professor at the National Center of Educational Research and Development in the branch of educational policy research/ Department of Adult education. She was a Head of the Adult Education department at the National Center for Educational Research and Development from 2014-2018. Dr. Reda is a team leader for several research projects and contributed to some educational activities at the national level, including: - Member of reviewing team of the strategic plan for Literacy and Adult Education in Egypt 2014 – 203, also a member of the Educational For All Report team in Egypt. - Member of team preparing for the Egypt implementation of the agreement of against discrimination in public education 1960, and member of the sustainable policy team in line with the Egypt vision 2030. - Member of working group for “preparing a trainer’s guide in the field of literacy with Rotray Authority”. - Member of working group of the “economic and social situation of the marginalized and the state of poverty and impoverishment and its impact on the child labor phenomena in Egypt” for the association of Make Your Dream Come True. Dr. Reda has contributed many papers in the annual conferences of the Center of Adult Education at ASU.
Dr. Nahla Jamal Mohammed Saad
Dr. Nahla Jamal Mohammed Saad is Doctor in Education and Secretary of the Center of Adult Education at Ain Shams University (ASU). She is certified a instructor in many specialized bodies and member of the International Writer Federation. Dr. Nahal is editor and secretary of the Journal New Horizons in Adult Education and member of many committees and associations: - Member of the Egyptian Association for Comparative Education and Educational Administration. She contributed to many research projects in the area of Adult Education and organizing of annual conferences on Adult Education. - Member of ASU committee for Literacy Initiatives, and volunteer member at civil society institutions. Dr. Nahla has published many papers and books in the area of Adult Literacy.