Knowledge Exchange
AASTMT’s Outreach and Community Engagement Strategy
Executive Summary
The Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) recognizes the essential role of universities in fostering social transformation. AASTMT is actively engaged in the management and delivery of outreach programs in the fields of education, health, digital literacy, innovation, and community development. These efforts directly support SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 9 (Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), while ensuring that students, staff, and the broader community benefit from inclusive access to high-quality education, services, and development opportunities.
AASTMT’s outreach efforts demonstrate a strong, multi-tiered commitment to the delivery and management of community-facing programs across education, health, innovation, and inclusion. The university serves as a national and regional leader in community transformation, facilitating capacity building and lifelong learning in partnership with stakeholders across Egypt, Africa, and Europe.
1. Educational and Literacy Outreach
Illiteracy Eradication & Youth Education
- AYB-AAST Illiteracy Program: Delivers Arabic literacy classes to children in underserved areas.
- Youth Development Program (YDP): Focuses on moral and intellectual development of marginalized youth.
- Reading and tutoring support was delivered through clubs and college volunteering teams.
National Programming & Digital Literacy
- Beaver Challenge – Egypt: Over 85,000 students trained in computational thinking.
- ICPC/ECPC Competitions: National programming challenges with participation from 96+ institutions.
- AI 101 and Arduino for Schools: Introductory AI, IoT, and microcontroller workshops for school students.
2. Access to Health and Wellbeing Services
Health Campaigns & Awareness
- 100 Days of Health campaign: Breast cancer, diabetes, and hypertension awareness in public spaces.
- EPSF-AAST campaigns: Blood donation drives, plasma awareness, chronic illness education.
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Mobile Health Convoys
- Medical and Dental Convoys: In partnership with Alexandria Health Directorate and universities.
- Rural clinics visited: Marsa Matrouh, Al-Amiriya, Al-Galaa, and more.
Women’s Health and Reproductive Awareness
- Partnership with Baheya Foundation: STEM and breast cancer early detection outreach.
- Cervical Screening Awareness Week and Eating Disorder Awareness Workshops
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3. Community Innovation and Inclusion
AYB-AAST Social Programs
- Microloans and Employment: Small business funding and entrepreneurship training for local communities.
- Seasonal Campaigns: “Keswa”, “Ramadan Bags”, “Batanya” events distributing essentials.
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Entrepreneurship & Startup Ecosystem
- AAST Entrepreneurship Center:
- 300+ startups incubated
- $10M+ in funding raised
- 500+ workshops held
- Programs include Rally Egypt, Rally Arab, Rally Accelerate
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4. STEM, Robotics, and Youth Empowerment
Robotics Education
- RoboCup Egypt, MATE ROV, and EV3 Workshops: Expose youth to AI, automation, and marine robotics.
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International Events at AASTMT
- IEEE YESIST12 Global Finale: 450+ participants from 20 countries showcased social tech projects.
- Engineering in Baheya (Women in Biomedicine): Gender-focused STEM innovation outreach.
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5. International Outreach and Global Collaboration
Erasmus+ and Global Capacity-Building Projects
- EmpowerHER (UK): Gender equality in STEM – mentoring and e-learning platforms
- AquaVET (Nigeria): Aquatic veterinary science for climate resilience
- GEMS-TECH (Kenya): Green shipbuilding education
- SPEED (MENA): EV/HEV hybrid vehicle education and Centers of Excellence
- RADIO: Global research collaboration and open science training
- UP-TAKERS: XR/VR learning labs in Tunisia, Jordan, Egypt
- SUMTS: 3D surveying and smart city mapping
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6. Key Outcomes and Impact Metrics
Focus Area
Impact
Education & Digital Literacy
100K+ student beneficiaries in coding and literacy
Health & Gender Awareness
20+ medical convoys/year; regional reproductive health events
Entrepreneurship
300+ startups supported; $10M+ in funding
Innovation & Technology
20+ cross-border capacity building projects (Erasmus+)
Community Service
Literacy, charity, microfinance, and youth mentoring in all governorates