Latest news with #HelwanUniversity
CairoScene
29-07-2025
- Business
- CairoScene
Egyptian Label 69-R7r7a Intends to Stay Slow & Locally Rooted
Egyptian Label 69-R7r7a Intends to Stay Slow & Locally Rooted When you go through 69-R7r7a's online store, you might notice a general sense of lawless nonchalance in their growing portfolio. This impression is not particularly bound by any concrete aspect of their clothing, except for the fact that a good portion of their catalogue assumes a relaxed fit; it's more in the very philosophy 69-R7r7a embodies. Like, this is the brand that broke the Egyptian corner of the internet with a full-length coat made entirely out of a traditional grandma's coverlet (more commonly, a 'coverta'), and didn't even bat an eye. Throughout my sinuous conversation with the 69-R7r7a founders, held over a choppy online meeting throughout which Jomana ElBendary and Youssef Gamal traded a phone between them while the other put out business-related fires, I realised the relaxedness of their brand was a reflection of their dynamic. The two founders met at the entrance exam for the Fine Arts program at Helwan University, and despite not immediately developing a friendship, they both developed a deep-rooted respect for each other's art. At around the same time, Gamal was starting his oversized clothing brand in 2018 (yep, way before the hype) under the name 69-R7r7a, while ElBendary made tie-dye and accessories. Two years after they both shut down their businesses, ElBendary was exploring new artistic fronts, this time of a more musical nature. 'I was on the hunt for a specific look that I just couldn't find anywhere - and we already knew how to make things. So I reached out to Gamal and said, 'Why don't we revive and repurpose 69-R7r7a?'' And just like that, 69-R7r7a as we know it - a brand that often revives and repurposes clothing at the end of its life - was itself reborn. 'When I think of 69-R7r7a, I think of it as less of a label and more of a space where we can create art, and give life to garments and objects that would otherwise be in a landfill,' says Gamal. 'That art just made its way, naturally, to fashion.' The art Gamal refers to is evident in the pieces 69-R7r7a crafts, and it's wildly unique from anything else on the market. You see, 69-R7r7a doesn't follow a brand manual, there's no 'inspo' Pinterest board. The brand is adamant on avoiding the common regional brand pitfall of wanting to mimic a collection or general creative direction that's already in existence somewhere in the West. It's not an 'Oh, I wish we had that in Egypt' situation; it's entirely novel. 'We refuse to associate with Pinterest at all,' ElBendary tells us. 'It stifles our creativity. If you copy someone else's painting, that doesn't make you an artist, does it?' 69-R7r7a's rejection of mood boards as a concept is also rooted in the fact that most of the content they could get inspiration from would be entirely Western; it's art created from Western inspiration by Western people. It just didn't reflect them. Instead, 69-R7r7a's 'inspo' board is what they can see in their day-to-day life in Cairo, and what they have seen growing up. That's how the 'coverta' line happened. 'We grew up surrounded by coverlets,' Gamal says. 'They're kind of like cultural symbols now. This is a memory we all share. When we restarted 69-R7r7a, we honestly felt like they provoked us to do something with them, so I borrowed one from my mum to experiment with.' Gamal believes that the mundane familiarity of the coverlet, the way our eyes are used to seeing it, is what made it such an insistent project. His mum was not happy to lose her coverlet. The 'coverta' coat, like the rest of the 69-R7r7a catalogue, was made by hand. Everything from the sewing pattern to the lining to the finishing is made by ElBendary and Gamal in their studio. In fact, when they first started out, they didn't even have a sewing machine, their pieces were entirely hand-sewn. Now, they use Gamal's grandmother's sewing machine. In Gamal's words, 'The only thing made in a factory is the clothing tags, and we attach them to our pieces by hand.' 69-R7r7a intends to maintain its slow production process; it's an integral aspect of the brand's identity, it allows them to think extensively about each individual piece they put out. Every stitch, every fabric choice is completely intentional. The very fact that ElBendary and Gamal design the patterns themselves ensures that these are clothes made to fit Egyptian bodies, instead of a mannequin modelled to the silhouette of a Western figure. Besides, 69-R7r7a became what it is today thanks to a fierce rejection of the mass production of clothing. 'We believe that the clothes you wear not only reflect your identity. They also shape it. It's slow, minute change, but it accumulates over time. Who would want their identity to be mass-produced?' Because every 69-R7r7a piece is an entire artistic endeavour on its own, the founders view them as heirlooms. 'We create our pieces to be immortal. We want them to be passed down through generations, the way a valuable tapestry or painting is kept in the family. They're wearable art.'
See - Sada Elbalad
25-06-2025
- Science
- See - Sada Elbalad
Helwan University Listed Among World's Top Universities in 2025 CWUR Ranking
By Ahmad El-Assasy As part of its ongoing commitment to strengthening its standing in prestigious international rankings, and through continuous efforts to enhance the quality of education and scientific research, Helwan University has been listed among the world's top universities in the 2025 Center for World University Rankings (CWUR). This classification selects the top 2,000 universities out of 21,462 institutions worldwide. The CWUR ranking is based on seven key indicators grouped into four main areas: Quality of Education (25%) Employability of Graduates (25%) Quality of Faculty Staff (10%) Total Published Research (10%) Publications in Top-Tier Journals (10%) Research Influence (10%) Citations (10%) Helwan University was ranked among 21 Egyptian universities included in the classification, reflecting its continuous efforts to develop academic and research performance and serve the community. This progress is made under the leadership of Prof. Dr. El-Sayed Kandil, President of Helwan University, and through the university's support for high-quality research and strengthening the competitiveness of its graduates in both local and international job markets. Dr. El-Sayed Kandil emphasized, 'Helwan University's inclusion in the global CWUR ranking is a culmination of the university's efforts to improve international rankings—one of the key pillars of our strategic plan that focuses on enhancing education quality, scientific research, and supporting academic staff. The university continuously strives to elevate its global position by promoting publication in prestigious journals and encouraging faculty members and researchers to innovate and excel, which contributes to achieving the national vision for advancing higher education and scientific research.' Prof. Dr. Emad Abou El-Dahab, Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research, added that the university's progress in international rankings reflects the significant efforts made in supporting the academic system, encouraging innovation, and fostering high-quality scientific output, thus increasing the impact of education and research locally and globally. Dr. Khaled Sayed, Director of the International Rankings Unit at Helwan University, stated that this achievement confirms the ability of Egyptian universities—and Helwan University in particular—to compete globally and achieve high ranks in prestigious international rankings. It is worth noting that the Egyptian universities included in the CWUR 2025 ranking are: Cairo University Ain Shams University Mansoura University Alexandria University Assiut University Zagazig University Tanta University Al-Azhar University Beni Suef University Helwan University Suez Canal University Menoufia University Benha University Kafr El-Sheikh University Fayoum University Minya University The British University in Egypt Sohag University Suez University The American University in Cairo Aswan University read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
Mada
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Mada
Helwan University administration seeks to downgrade contracts of over 300 employees
The administration at Helwan University is seeking to transfer over 300 of its employees from renewable, short-term contracts to new contracts this month, which would strip them of their existing employment rights. The workers, who have been employed by the state university in Cairo under automatically renewable annual contracts for years, have been anticipating that the university would grant them permanent contracts as mandated by law. The permanent contracts would entitle them to promotions and raises based on seniority and rank. Instead, the new contracts offered to them would reclassify them as daily wage laborers. While they receive fixed wages, social insurance and other benefits under their existing agreements, the contracts the administration is attempting to impose on them would leave them without any of these protections. The workers, who say they were not informed of the change at all, are taking action to reject the move and demanding permanent contracts, arguing that having worked for over a decade they are legally entitled to tenure, or at least continued renewal of their short-term contracts, according to several workers who spoke to Mada Masr. Workers received a written notice from the university's human resources department in March instructing them to visit the administration office to 'sign the contracts in preparation for renewal starting from July 1.' Temporary contracts are always renewed automatically on July 1 each year, said one worker, who has been employed in the university's auxiliary services for 13 years. Around 50 workers signed the new contracts without carefully reviewing them, assuming they were part of the tenure process — especially since the administration had requested their hiring documents again, several workers told Mada Masr. Upon reading the terms, however, some realized that the contracts were different from those they had signed in previous years. The auxiliary service worker was one of the 300 who refused to sign. They told Mada Masr that after so many years of service, they should have been granted tenure. One worker, a janitor at the university for 13 years, was among those who unknowingly signed the new contract, believing it was a tenure agreement. The university's administration required the janitor to submit specific documents for the new contract. To cover the costs of obtaining these documents, they had to borrow money, as they only earn LE4,700 per month. 'At first, we were happy, thinking we were finally getting tenure. We got the paperwork done, only to realize I was borrowing money to get myself fired,' they said. When the administration refused to provide the worker with a copy of their new contract, they filed a report at Helwan Police Station, accusing the university of fraud. Workers say they faced intense pressure and threats of dismissal from the administration, especially after seeking help from a member of parliament. The MP instructed them to record a 'video appeal' outlining their demands, which was then sent to the university head. On March 11, MP Samira al-Gazzar submitted an inquiry to the prime minister and the labor minister regarding the university threatening its workers to force them into signing the new contracts, as well as the employees who signed the new contracts unknowingly. She argued that the university's actions infringe on workers' rights and contradict 'its own staffing needs, particularly given the high number of employees retiring.' The auxiliary worker who spoke to Mada Masr mentioned that they had worked in several positions at the university, given major staffing shortages. Mada Masr reached out to Helwan University's administration for comment, but the university president's office director Tarek Ali declined to respond, saying that only the university's secretary-general Major General Mohamed Abu Shoqqa was authorized to speak on the matter. When contacted, Abu Shoqqa refused to comment over the phone. Lawyer Haitham Mohamadein told Mada Masr that Law 19/2012, which amended civil service regulations, mandates that all short-term state employees must be granted permanent contracts after three years of service — a requirement upheld under the Civil Service Law 81/2016. Helwan University's short-term employees are therefore entitled to tenure under Article 187
CairoScene
02-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Hurghada Youth Cinema Festival Launches Poster Design Competition
The competition officially opens on March 1st, with the winning design set to be announced on July 1st, 2025. Mar 02, 2025 The Hurghada Youth Cinema Festival (HYCF) has announced the launch of a poster design competition for its third edition, in partnership with Helwan University. The initiative aims to support young creatives by providing students and graduates of art faculties the opportunity to visually express their artistic vision. The competition aligns with the university's strategy of bridging academic learning with real-world creative industries. 'We want the poster for the third edition to reflect young people's vision of cinema and creativity,' Kadry El-Haggar, Festival Director, said. 'This is an opportunity for emerging designers to bring fresh ideas, free from constraints.' A jury panel comprising Helwan University professors and festival representatives will select the winning design, which should capture the festival's identity, while resonating with both audiences and industry professionals. The Hurghada Youth Cinema Festival, organised by Fanoon for Culture and Media, is supported by the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Red Sea Governorate, and the Syndicate of Film Professions. The competition officially opens on March 1st, with the winning design set to be announced on July 1st, 2025.
