"Four cups of coffee a day could help prevent Parkinson's disease and dementia," according to Mohamed Salama, professor at AUC’s Institute of Global Health and Human Ecology, who presented his research on healthy aging, the first of its kind in the Middle East, during the Faculty at the Forefront media panel. 

The Longitudinal Study of Egyptian Healthy Aging (AL-SEHA), the first nationally representative panel study on aging in Egypt, aims to fill knowledge gaps that are necessary to set health, social and economic policy priorities. AL-SEHA also works on prioritizing resources and promoting effective strategies for healthcare and social systems in Egypt, in addition to improving the lives of the country’s aging population. The project is set to launch in 2024, thanks to Salama; Hoda Rashad, director of AUC’s Social Research Center; and a team from the center.

"Four cups of coffee a day could help prevent Parkinson's disease and dementia."

“There has been a growing global interest in healthy aging studies because these reveal the challenges and opportunities that will face the world in the future, especially in low- and middle-income countries that suffer from a scarcity of data in this field,” he said.

Egypt is a particularly interesting example since it is the most populous Middle Eastern country as well as the third most populous country in Africa, Salama noted. “Although the Egyptian population is still young, the number of older people is increasing,” he said. “Egypt is in an ideal position to prepare its population for healthy aging based on medical, economic and social research that effectively addresses the multifaceted challenges faced by an aging society.”

"There has been a growing global interest in healthy aging studies because these reveal the challenges and opportunities that will face the world in the future, especially in low- and middle-income countries that suffer from a scarcity" ... This valuable information can also help reduce access inequities and age-based discrimination while facilitating the evaluation of health policies and analytical studies."

The study will include about 20,000 participants aged over 50 representing all of Egypt’s governorates. The study will span at least 10 years, with researchers following up with participants every two years to track changes in their health. Salama and the team will collaborate with government agencies, civil society and not-for-profit organizations in Egypt, in addition to the SHARE project, which researches the connection between policy and the quality of life for European citizens and beyond.

Salama hopes the findings will inform policy and planning to improve healthcare services for older adults in Egypt. “This valuable information can also help reduce access inequities and age-based discrimination while facilitating the evaluation of health policies and analytical studies,” he said.

In addition to paving the way for better health outcomes, the study will also shed light on the impact of climate change and societal changes. “These changes include, for example, the continuing trend toward urbanization, with more older people moving to the cities, which in turn affects the way older people live and creates new challenges related to access to health care services and social isolation,” Salama explained.

“Since my childhood, I have been obsessed with the tech field and was always curious to know how computers worked. They really fascinated me,” said Youssef Medhat, a freshman majoring in computer engineering and a member of the first cohort of Excellence Scholars. “Once I knew that AUC provides a scholarship for outstanding students, I applied and received a full scholarship that I am confident will immensely help me pursue my goals.” 

This fall, AUC welcomed the first recipients of the Excellence Scholarship Program, which attracts a diverse and talented pool of top students. “Engaging with my community through student activities in high school while maintaining a good academic record were the two main factors that helped me get this scholarship,” Medhat explained.

While planning to immerse himself in his studies, Medhat is keen on going beyond the classrooms and labs. “I’m more interested in student organizations at AUC, such as Google Developer Student Clubs, Robotics Club, and the Computer Science and Engineering Association, which I believe will fulfill my passion for technology and further enhance my knowledge in the field,” he said. 

For Medhat, co-curricular activities are a platform to develop real-life skills and volunteer to support the community around him, as he did during high school. “I was appointed as head of the IT committees in some of the student activities I was enrolled in at school,” he explained. 

However, Medhat did not stop there. “I started my own student club at school dedicated to spreading news about tech trends.” Medhat’s active participation in student bodies throughout his high school years and his growing interest in different student organizations at AUC evoke his leadership qualities and unwavering commitment to both his academic and non-academic journey. 

His career aspirations? A software engineer, of course. 

“My time at AUC will help me get there and will enable me to have a meaningful impact in society,” he said. “I’m looking forward to this exciting journey.” 

AUC and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) have joined forces on Egypt’s Digital Heritage Portal project, alongside providing expert electronics training for engineering students and fresh graduates in the country. 

President Ahmad Dallal affirmed that this partnership is a prime example of AUC’s commitment to serving society, promoting economic and human development in the communications and information technology sectors, and providing assistance and extensive vocational training to give Egyptian youth the tools they require to thrive and compete globally. “We continue to develop our well-rounded liberal arts education to ensure learners are prepared to navigate the evolving labor market while sharing our vision with our governmental and educational partners as well as the private sector,” Dallal stated.

MCIT Minister Amr Talaat emphasized the ministry's plan to strengthen Egypt's position in electronic design, with a focus on electric cars and self-driving vehicles, and commended the extensive knowledge and academic expertise of AUC. “This endeavor seeks to expand the pool of specialized professionals and equip youth with a robust skill set, ensuring they possess the necessary knowledge to excel in these high-value scientific specializations,” said Talaat.

“We continue to develop our well-rounded liberal arts education to ensure learners are prepared to navigate the evolving labor market while sharing our vision with our governmental and educational partners as well as the private sector."

The Role of the AUC Library: Heritage Preservation

AUC's Libraries and Learning Technologies will be collaborating with MCIT to make available Egypt’s rich heritage in a digital format to researchers and culture enthusiasts through Egypt’s Digital Heritage Portal project. “AUC's Libraries and Learning Technologies has a long and distinguished history of collecting, digitizing and safeguarding cultural heritage while also playing a pivotal role in disseminating knowledge and information," said Lamia Eid '88, '92, interim dean of Libraries and Learning Technologies. "We are excited to embark on this journey to share our resources and expertise as Egypt gears up for the launch of the [nationwide] Digital Heritage Portal project."

"We are committed to providing comprehensive metadata for the digitized collection, as metadata plays a crucial role in facilitating search and discovery, enabling scholars to navigate and explore Egypt's cultural heritage more effectively,” she continued.

Equipping Engineering Students with State-of-the-Art Training

"By developing programs that empower engineers and foster local startups and foreign investment, we can unlock the potential of many talented engineers in Egypt, driving innovation and progress,” 

Through AUC and MCIT’s collaboration, engineering students and fresh graduates from all over Egypt will receive world-class expert electronics training conducted in Egypt’s seven centers for electronics development, which are located at AUC and the Smart Village as well as Alexandria, Borg El Arab, Zagazig, Ismailia and Assiut governorates

“Providing expert engineering training is not just about acquiring skills, but more about generating opportunities for job creation and economic growth," said Yehea Ismail, professor and chair of AUC's Department of Electronics and Communications Engineering and director of the Center of Nanoelectronics and Devices at the University who was recently appointed as adviser to Egypt’s MCIT minister. "By developing programs that empower engineers and foster local startups and foreign investment, we can unlock the potential of many talented engineers in Egypt, driving innovation and progress.” 

Providing expert engineering training allows students to not only acquire skills but also generate opportunities for employment and economic growth. With AUC's support, participants across Egypt will receive live and virtual instruction from talented teachers worldwide and hands-on guidance from trained assistants.