Today, Prof. Mohamed Hussein, President of Tanta University, opened the activities of the "First Literary Narrative Forum for Delta Region Universities" (the session of the international writer Naguib Mahfouz), which was organized by the university with the aim of supporting young literary talents, encouraging students to be creative in the fields of stories and novels, and enhancing cultural communication between students of the region's universities.

    The forum witnessed wide participation of student delegations and supervisors from 10 universities, namely: Tanta, Mansoura, Menoufia, Menoufia National, Damietta, Kafr El-Sheikh, Sadat University, Horus, Al-Salam, and Al-Riyada for Science and Technology. The works submitted for the competition were evaluated electronically (online) in advance through a specialized jury that included senior writers and critics, namely: Dr. Osama Al-Bahery, head of the General Syndicate branch of the Writers Union in the Middle Delta, and critic and writer Mukhtar Issa, former vice president of the Writers Union, and the writer Jaber Sarkis, a member of the Writers Union.

    Prof. Mohamed Hussein stressed that the launch of the first Literary Narrative Forum for the Delta Region, through which we bear the name of a global figure of the stature of the writer Naguib Mahfouz, embodies Tanta University's deep belief in the role of culture and literature in building the awareness of youth and refining their personalities. He stressed the university's keenness to embrace creative people from various Delta universities and provide a fertile environment that allows them to hone their narrative and novelistic talents through direct communication with the giants of criticism and literature. He commended the creative energy he saw today among the students, which confirms that we are moving on the right path toward building a generation capable of enriching the Egyptian and Arab cultural movement. He also thanked Prof. Al-Sayed Al-Agouz, Vice President of the University for Education and Student Affairs.

    The competition results in the short story category were as follows: First place was awarded to student Aya Mohamed Abdel Hamid Abdel Halim from Mansoura University, who received the University and Forum Shield. Second place went to Iman Hamdy Ragab Abdel Moneim from Kafrelsheikh University, while third place was awarded to Fatima Helmy Salit from Al-Salam University.

    In the novel category, first place was awarded to Mohamed Ahmed Rushdy Saad from Menoufia University, who received the University and Forum Shield. Second place went to Nourhan Abdel Majeed Saad Al-Shahawy from Tanta University, while third place was awarded to Ziad Amir Yassin from Mansoura University.

    The conclusion witnessed the distribution of financial prizes, in addition to granting certificates of appreciation, shields, and certificates of encouragement to distinguished students. The forum included holding a specialized training workshop in the arts of writing stories and novels, and a critical session to discuss the work of the participating students, under the supervision of Prof. Magdy Wakouk, General Coordinator of Student Activities, and Prof. Mohamed El-Qaseer, General Manager of the Student Care Department.