December 22, 2025

Under the patronage of Professor Ahmed El-Minshawy, President of Assiut University, the Sustainable Development Unit at the Faculty of Specific Education organized an initiative titled “Sustainable Applied Arts” on Monday, December 22, 2025. The initiative was supervised by Professor Mohamed Ahmed Adawy, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development; Professor Yasmine El-Kahky, Dean of the Faculty; Professor Saleh Mahmoud Ismail, Director of the University’s Center for Sustainable Development; and Professor Mohamed Abdel-Baset Mohamed, Vice Dean for Community Service and Head of the Sustainable Development Unit. Dr. Rehab Ahmed Zaki, Executive Director of the Unit, and Dr. Heba Atef Galal, Unit Coordinator, also participated.

The event was attended by Dr. Nariman Saeed, Vice Dean for Postgraduate Studies and Research; Dr. Doaa Abdel-Mohsen, Vice Dean for Education and Student Affairs; Mr. Mohamed Farag, Board Member of the Center for Sustainable Development; alongside faculty members, department heads, staff, and students.

Professor El-Minshawy emphasized the University’s commitment to employing creativity and the arts as effective tools to support environmental sustainability and raise societal awareness about sustainable development. He highlighted Assiut University’s efforts to integrate environmental dimensions into academic and cultural activities, fostering responsible student awareness and enhancing the University’s community service role in line with Egypt Vision 2030.

Professor Mohamed Adawy praised the initiative, noting its aim to promote environmental sustainability through art, increase participants’ awareness of applied arts projects in achieving sustainable development goals, and encourage the creation of environmentally friendly artworks. He also highlighted the initiative’s role in fostering partnerships among various artistic sectors and commended the Sustainable Development Unit for advancing the University’s sustainability objectives.

Professor Yasmine El-Kahky underscored that the initiative seeks to combine artistic creativity with environmental responsibility, demonstrating how applied arts can serve as an effective medium for raising awareness of environmental and social issues. She emphasized that the initiative offers innovative experiences in producing artworks that strategically link aesthetic value with developmental impact, preparing students to take responsibility within a sustainable society.

Professor Saleh Mahmoud Ismail noted that the Faculty of Specific Education is a pioneer in supporting sustainable development goals through specialized activities and initiatives, which help spread a culture of sustainability across the university community.

Dr. Mohamed Abdel-Baset Mohamed added that the initiative highlights that creativity is not solely an aesthetic pursuit but a powerful tool for community service and building the future. He stressed that the faculty, through its various departments, can support sustainability by promoting environmental awareness, recycling practices, resource conservation, and translating awareness into tangible action.

The initiative included the opening of the “Sustainable Applied Arts” exhibition, showcasing works by faculty members of the Department of Art Education. The exhibition featured diverse art forms, including painting, sculpture, design, ceramics, handicrafts, woodworking, and design fundamentals, reflecting environmental sustainability concepts.

Additionally, musical performances were presented by Mr. Ahmed Hanafi, teaching assistant in the Department of Music Education, and students Irene Hany and Maria Milad, highlighting the role of music in supporting the cultural and environmental message of the initiative.

The event concluded with a ceremony honoring university and faculty leaders in recognition of their active role in the success of the initiative and their contributions to supporting the Sustainable Development Unit and promoting a culture of sustainability within the college and the university community.