During the visit of the delegation of the Southern Federal University to Egypt, consisting of Maxim Bondarev, Vice-Rector for International and Project Activities, and Gerges Bola, Rector's Plenipotentiary Representative in Africa and the Middle East, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Southern Federal University and King Salman International University.  The agreement provides for the development of cooperation in a number of areas, including scientific research, as well as the exchange of students and teachers, reflecting a common desire to strengthen academic and cultural ties between the two countries.

Among other things, Maxim Bondarev presented the idea of creating mirror centers of Russian/Arabic language and culture at partner universities, emphasizing that learning a language alone is not enough to achieve effective communication and understanding between peoples. In this context, cultural immersion and the implementation of joint educational and research projects play a crucial role.

On December 3 and 4, the SFedU delegation took part in the events of the Forum of Graduates of Soviet and Russian Universities representing the Education and Healthcare systems of the Middle East and North Africa, including the grand opening of the forum, a plenary session, round tables, meetings with partner universities, visits to branches of Kazan Federal University and St. Petersburg State University.

Within the framework of the forum, meetings were held with the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Egypt, Dr. Ayman Ashour, as well as with the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Egypt, Georgy Borisenko.

The meetings discussed key aspects of cooperation between Russia and Egypt in the field of higher education and personnel training for the modern labor market. Special attention was paid to joint projects aimed at developing educational cooperation between the two countries.

Maxim Bondarev spoke at the round table "Scientific and educational cooperation, joint scientific research, development of industrial and educational partnership". He emphasized the importance of international scientific cooperation and the training of qualified personnel, and also assessed the potential for cooperation between Russian scientific institutions and colleagues from Africa and the Middle East, suggesting a model of integrated interaction between universities, research centers and industrial partners, including in the areas of strategic university projects, as well as a number of initiatives in the field of education and systematic work with graduates.

"Today we understand that graduates are one of the drivers of the university's development. These are the people who become carriers of the university's unique cultural code and take with them a piece of our country, which they then embody in their own projects and new partnerships for the university," said Maxim Germanovich. 

On December 4, the forum continued its work Representatives of Rossotrudnichestvo and Russian universities held meetings with partner universities: Suez Canal University, Luxor University, etc., and an Open Day of Russian Education for applicants from Cairo and other Egyptian cities was also held.

The Forum of graduates of Soviet and Russian universities representing the education and healthcare systems of the Middle East and North Africa has become an important platform for strengthening academic ties between Russia and Egypt and creating new opportunities for joint work in the educational and scientific fields.