In a grand ceremony filled with pride and a sense of accomplishment, Thebes Higher Institutes celebrated the graduation of a new class of students yesterday evening. The event, held at the Al-Azhar Conference Center in Nasr City, marked the 62nd graduating class of the Thebes Higher Institute of Engineering and the 92nd class of the Thebes Higher Institute of Computer Science and Management Sciences.
The ceremony was held under the patronage and in the presence of Prof. Dr. Amal Afifi, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Thebes Higher Institutes; Prof. Dr. Randa Hassan, Dean of the Thebes Higher Institute of Engineering; Prof. Dr. Hala Abdel-Jalil, Dean of the Thebes Higher Institute of Computer Science and Management Sciences; and Prof. Dr. Waseem Wagih, Dean of the Thebes Higher Institute of Computer Science and Management Sciences for the 2025/2026 academic year. They were joined by a host of faculty members and a large gathering of parents and students. The ceremony’s proceedings were presented by Prof. Dr. Yasser Askar, Professor of Law.
The event was attended by a distinguished group of guests of honor and public figures, who shared words of guidance and encouragement with the graduates as they embark on their professional journeys.
Visions and Successes Shaping the Future: For her part, H.E. Dr. Nevine El-Kabbag, former Minister of Social Solidarity, expressed her delight at being among the young graduates, emphasizing in her address the paramount importance of community service. She also stressed the need for young people to constantly strive to develop their personal and professional skills to keep pace with the rapidly evolving demands of the labor market. In an economic context, Prof. Dr. Fayyad Abdel-Moneim, former Minister of Finance, emphasized that the current economic climate demands an entrepreneurial mindset from young people. He urged them to pursue the establishment of small and micro-enterprises while stressing the necessity of keeping pace with rapid technological advancements to ensure success and sustainability.
Regarding architectural authenticity and national pride, Prof. Dr. Essam Safi El-Din—Professor of Architecture and founder of the Egyptian Architecture House—delivered a message rooted in culture and art. He discussed the significance and history of architecture, warning against the risk of modern technology and artificial intelligence supplanting the very soul of architectural art—with its authenticity, beauty, and rich heritage.
The series of inspiring speeches concluded with a moving address by the acclaimed artist Tarek El-Desouky. He called upon the graduates to take pride in their Egyptian identity and to refuse to let anyone discourage them or diminish their love for their homeland. The artist highlighted the blessed, sacred, and exalted status of Egypt, noting its frequent mention in divine scriptures, the divine manifestation that occurred on its soil in Sinai, and the fact that the Virgin Mary sought refuge there—all of which make it a nation worthy of every sacrifice and dedicated effort.
Supporting Scientific Research and Exemplary Models
In the context of supporting scientific research and fostering engineering innovation, Dr. Randa Hassan showcased one of the Institute’s outstanding graduation projects: a "smart glove" powered by artificial intelligence designed to generate Arabic speech by recognizing hand signals and gestures. The project aims to assist individuals with communication difficulties by converting hand signals into spoken Arabic words and phrases. It is worth noting that the project was among the top 16 projects selected for presentation at the science exhibition, attended by the Minister of Defense, several other ministers, and dignitaries.

The project team consisted of the following students:
Kamal Sayed Kamal Shafiq (Team Leader), Mohsen Mohamed Mohamed Amin, Omar Eid Khalifa Abdel-Wahab, Mostafa Ahmed El-Sayed Allouh, and Abdullah Ibrahim Ahmed Qutb, all under the supervision of Dr. Ashraf Mahmoud Abdel-Rahman Rizk.

**Honoring Academic Excellence**
The ceremony also featured a segment honoring faculty members from the Thebes Higher Institute of Engineering who had attained advanced academic degrees:
• Dr. Iman Khalafallah Ahmed Ali, for obtaining a PhD in Architecture from Ain Shams University.
• Engineer Amira Gamal El-Hosary, for obtaining a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Al-Azhar University.

**Graduation Moment and the Graduates' Oath**
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Amal Afifi led the recitation of the graduation oath. The students repeated the oath after her, formally marking the beginning of their professional careers. The event concluded with the taking of commemorative photos amidst a joyful atmosphere, reflecting the happiness of the graduates and their families on this momentous occasion.