AUC Discusses “Education, Research And A Service Culture "

Celebrating its centennial and 100 years of dedicated service to the Egyptian community, the American University in Cairo (AUC) organized a panel discussion titled, “Education, Research and a Service Culture.”

"Since its establishment in 1919, AUC has greatly contributed to the community service through several programs and initiatives, including the creation of over 60 student clubs that serve the community in fields of education, giving to the underprivileged, helping street children, and organizing iftars for the poor in Ramadan" said Prof. Francis J. Ricciardone, AUC president.

He noted that AUC’s John D. Gerhart Center for Philanthropy and Civic Engagement and Responsible Business is also one of the University’s main assets of community engagement.

The center aims to encourage students to participate in civil engagement practices at large and in the Arab region in specific.

It also provides an array of services varying from education and research to empowerment, helping philanthropy activities prevail and guarantee social equality and development.

Moreover, AUC is contributing to community sustainability and the preservation of environment through the establishment of the Center for Applied Research on the Environment and Sustainability (CARES).

In addition, AUC’s Social Research Center (SRC) has always been a contributor to the Egyptian community by carrying out multidisciplinary research on a broad range of subjects, including health, women empowerment, agriculture, social and economic policies; and engaging in capacity building of students and researchers in Egypt and the region.

Raghda El Ibrashi, founder and chairperson, “Alashanek ya Balady”. El Ibrashi will narrate her experience on community service when she was a student and how she sustained “Alashanek ya Balady” initiative after graduation.

Ramez Yousry, co-founder and managing director, “Helm Egypt”. Yousry will talk about AUC’s impact on him and how it led him to initiate Helm Egypt.

Dina Rateb, associate professor of management information systems and advisor of Volunteers in Action student club, AUC. Rateb will talk about the importance of community service to AUC as an education institution.

Ahmed Saeed, president, Hand in Hand student club, AUC. Saeed will tackle community service and how useful it was to him and other students at AUC on personal and academic levels.

Contributed by Ahmad El-Assay