Former Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala Elsaid, who is currently the economic adviser to Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, is stepping into the role of University counselor with excitement, looking to build tomorrow’s leaders out of the promising youth at AUC.

“I’m passionate about young people,” she affirmed. “I believe in the power of youth; they can move mountains. You just need to give them the proper ecosystem and show them the support and guidance they need.”

As University counselor, Elsaid will help advance AUC’s relationships with national universities, the Supreme Council of Universities and the Egyptian government. “My short-term goal is to enhance the linkage between AUC, the different Egyptian academic institutions and governmental bodies,” she said. “My long-term vision is to see AUC leading this reform of academic excellence across Egypt.” 

Elsaid has a robust background, having served as minister of planning and economic development from 2019 to 2024 and as minister of planning, monitoring and administrative reform from 2017 to 2019. She oversaw the development and update of Egypt’s Vision 2030. She was also previously chair of The Sovereign Fund of Egypt, the first elected dean of the Faculty of Economics and Political Science at Cairo University, and a board member of the Central Bank of Egypt. In addition, she was executive director of the Egyptian Banking Institute, which became the first internationally accredited financial training body in the Middle East and North Africa under her tenure.

“All these mixed leadership roles have given me a diversified perspective,” Elsaid explained. “I believe that education is crucial in addressing the government’s national priorities. We need partnerships between academia, the government and the private sector to serve the community and help in the national transformation of the country.”

Elsaid expressed her interest in working with the young minds present at AUC, including meeting with the Student Union and engaging in student activities. “By working closely with the AUC community, I can see how we can best serve students and therefore how we can best serve Egypt.”

Get to Know University Counselor Hala Elsaid

Outside of her role as counselor, Elsaid is excited to get to know the AUC community. She shared with News@AUC the things she enjoys outside of the office.

What’s your favorite film?

Gary el-Wuhoosh and Forest Gump.

Who are your favorite authors?

Reem Bassioueny because I love how she mixes history and drama. And Ian Bremmer because I’m very interested in political economy.

What’s your favorite food?

Molokhiya. And taameya; I cannot resist it.

What music do you listen to?

I love Arabic classics, such as Abdel Halim Hafez and Mohammed Abdel Wahab. But I also enjoy the new light Arabic songs. 

What do you like doing in your free time?

Reading, swimming and watching old movies.

What’s something not everyone knows about you?

I love and appreciate art. There are so many great opportunities around Cairo, including all the museums and the Cairo Opera House. I also love painting, though I don’t paint myself.  

What’s your proudest achievement?

My children and grandchildren. Whatever professional achievements I make, my true success is seeing my children and grandchildren. 

Music Major

The music program within the Department of Arts has remodeled its music technology and musical arts in performance majors into a singular music major. Students within the major now have the option to choose a concentration in either music technology or music performance. Non-music majors still have the option to minor in either music technology or music performance. 

Restructuring the major is designed to consolidate what both programs originally shared and streamline the majors process to define their concentration.

"Aligning the concentrations and putting them under one roof allows for a much streamlined format so students can plan a four-year degree,” said David Rafferty, associate professor of practice and director of the music program. “With the restructuring, all music students can be in the same prerequisite classes together, such as Arabic and Western Music Theory, before breaking out into specific genres and specializations.” 

By giving all students the same baseline, the program can continue to grow and flourish as a united music community. “It's a fresh start that allows us to focus on our strengths — such as Arabic music, jazz, pop and rock — which many of our students are passionate about,” said Rafferty.

Sustainable Energy Minor

The Department of Petroleum and Energy Engineering’s new sustainable energy minor was created for students who are interested in sustainable energy and environment. The program is open to any students in the School of Sciences and Engineering (SSE), except those already majoring in petroleum engineering. For students curious about sustainable development, energy policy and climate innovation, this program offers a mix of core engineering and economics courses that suit those interests. 

“Graduates of the program will be well-prepared for careers in the renewable energy sector, sustainability consulting, environmental policy and energy systems design,” said Abdelaziz Khlaifat, professor and department chair. “The sustainable energy minor is designed to give students a solid foundation in energy systems, renewable technologies and sustainability practices. It offers a pathway for SSE students to be more environmentally conscious and align with industry standards emphasizing sustainability, innovation and systems integration.”

Genomics and Biotechnology Specialization 

Genomics and biotechnology are now being offered as a specialization for biology majors, alongside ecology and conservation biology. 

In the growing genome-based fields within academia and industry, a concentration in genomics can offer key insight into the fundamentals of biological science. Students will have the opportunity to choose from classes like Bioinformatics, Molecular Biology of the Gene, and Cellular and Molecular Immunology, and Tumor Biology, in addition to the biology core requirements. 

“This specialization isn’t just about preparing students for careers in academia or industry,” said Ahmed Moustafa, professor of bioinformatics and genomics data science. “It also aligns directly with Egypt’s national vision and the global shift toward precision medicine. With the Egypt Genome Project underway, there’s a significant investment in genome-centered healthcare that will open new opportunities in research, diagnostics and therapies. Our goal with this program is to ensure that our students are equipped for these opportunities. They will graduate with the knowledge and skills to participate in these advancements and help shape the future of precision medicine in Egypt, across the region and around the world.”