Professor Mohamed Hussein, President of Tanta University, attended today the activities of the First Scientific Forum of the Research Excellence Competition for Postgraduate Students. The event was attended by Professor Hatem Amin, Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Research; Professor El-Sayed El-Agouz, Vice President for Education and Student Affairs; Professor Mahmoud Selim, Acting Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development; and Professor Essam Khamis, Head of the Interdisciplinary Studies Sector at the Supreme Council of Universities and former Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, alongside a distinguished group of faculty deans, vice deans, academic staff members, and researchers.

       The forum featured the announcement of the competition results and the honoring of the top three winners. Researcher Khaled Bakhit El-Menoufi, from the Faculty of Pharmacy, secured first place, followed by researcher Nermeen Salah El-Din Hafez, from the Faculty of Science, in second place. Dr. Ahmed Maher Abdel-Maboud, from the Faculty of Medicine, came in third place.

       Professor Mohamed Hussein emphasized that Tanta University places the promotion of research excellence and the development of young scientific talent among its foremost strategic priorities. He noted that scientific research serves as a key driver of institutional development, knowledge production, and community service. He further highlighted the University's commitment to supporting applied and interdisciplinary research and expanding scientific partnerships at both the national and international levels, in alignment with Egypt Vision 2030.

       The University President explained that research excellence is measured not merely by the number of published papers or awards received, but also by the originality of ideas, the quality of scientific methodology, adherence to research ethics, and the ability of research findings to provide practical solutions to societal and developmental challenges. He affirmed that the forum represents an important opportunity to showcase promising research models and foster a culture of innovation and constructive scientific competition, thereby strengthening the University's academic and research standing.

       For his part, Professor Hatem Amin explained that the forum marks the culmination of a competition launched by the University's Postgraduate Studies and Research Sector, targeting master's and doctoral students across various academic disciplines. The competition was designed to encourage researchers to transform their scientific ideas into outputs suitable for publication and practical application, while providing opportunities for competition and the exchange of expertise among the University's different faculties.

        He added that the competition seeks to identify promising research talents and prepare a generation of qualified researchers capable of actively participating in international scientific forums. He congratulated the first- and second-place winners at the faculty level and expressed his appreciation to faculty deans and vice deans, members of the scientific committees, and scientific research units for their efforts in organizing and evaluating the competition.

       The forum's program included a lecture delivered by Professor Essam Khamis entitled "Performance Indicators and Excellence Assessment in Scientific Research in the Age of Artificial Intelligence." The lecture addressed the latest standards for evaluating scientific output and indicators for measuring research impact, including academic citations, the H-index, and the number of published research papers. It also explored international funding opportunities for research projects and applications of artificial intelligence in developing researchers' skills and improving publication quality. He stressed the importance of not relying exclusively on quantitative indicators when assessing the scientific and societal value of research.

         Dr. Dina Abdel-Hady, the competition's General Coordinator, delivered a presentation outlining the stages of preparation, implementation, and evaluation, as well as the competition's key outcomes. She also presented recommendations concerning the development of mechanisms for supporting researchers, expanding opportunities for scientific collaboration, and adopting international evaluation standards to ensure the sustainability of the initiative and maximize the benefits of its outcomes.

        Furthermore, Dr. Mohamed El-Sheshtawy, Director of the University's Main Sustainability Center and the University Center for International Rankings, delivered a lecture entitled "From Research Excellence to Global Recognition: Scientific Research Achievements and Their Role in Enhancing Tanta University's Position in International Rankings." He highlighted the University's major research achievements and their impact on its international academic presence, explaining the role of distinguished international publications and research partnerships in improving ranking indicators and enhancing the University's academic reputation.

        The forum also witnessed the participation of members of the competition's evaluation committees, its coordinators, and the second-stage evaluation committee, as part of the University's ongoing efforts to encourage outstanding researchers and provide an academic environment conducive to creativity and innovation.