President’s Word
As we prepare to launch the AASTMT’s Strategic Plan 2026-2031, one cannot help but reflect with pride upon what the Academy's family has achieved over the past few years, and the prestigious scientific and institutional status it has attained, which rightfully made the Academy a model for joint Arab action under the umbrella of the Arab League. The Academy embodies the aspirations of our Arab nation to build a future based on science, innovation, and entrepreneurship, led by young people capable of facing the challenges imposed by our contemporary world with science and knowledge.
Our world today is profoundly different from what it was five years ago. As we navigate the implementation of our 2021-2026 Strategic Plan, it has become evident that the only enduring constant in this world is perpetual change and accelerating transformations. Such transformation is driven by modern technologies in renewable and clean energy, the decarbonization of the maritime industry, the digital economy, the digitization of services and commerce, digital twins, the Fifth Industrial Revolution, biotechnology, precision medicine, and the use of smart robots in surgery. It is also driven by the proliferation and growth of artificial intelligence usage, which has truly become the common denominator across disciplines and the most influential force reshaping the world as we know it. Or it is driven by geopolitical shifts in our region and beyond, which pose challenges to our Arab nation that can only be met by a generation that comprehends these realities, but also possesses the tools to transform them.
Where many view this volatile world with apprehension, AASTMT adopts a distinct perspective. We do not fear the future; we seek to shape it and to seize the opportunities for growth, leadership, and the advancement of our societies that change inevitably brings.
In recent years, the Academy has unmistakably advanced steadily and visibly. It maintained its global prominence in the maritime field. It actively participated in shaping the future of the blue economy, setting the standards for Maritime Education & Training (MET) in the era of autonomous vessels, reaffirming its pioneering role as a distinguished Arab house of expertise. The Academy was further honored by the recent Arab Summit’s adoption of its initiatives in the blue economy, as an integrated response to food and energy imperatives, as well as in the field of Artificial Intelligence, with due regard to its challenges and opportunities. It has also consolidated its role in the fields of transport and logistics through active participation in specialized technical committee meetings and through its steadfast commitment to strengthening Arab integration within this vital sector. The foresight of the Academy’s vision was unequivocally affirmed when it established the College of Artificial Intelligence and the Arab Center for Artificial Intelligence, before the onset of the global revolution in that domain. The first cohort of graduates was ushered into an era of high AI penetration across education, research, industry, and service provision. This foresight was reaffirmed with the establishment of the new campus in New Alamein City, in realization of the vision of the Host State, and the investment in medical sector faculties, transforming the campus into the vibrant heart of the emerging city. Today, it encompasses an unprecedented medical complex built to the highest international standards, extending beyond the boundaries of the new city to serve the entire region and to save lives in a place where wars were claiming lives.
The Academy continues to respond proactively to the evolving needs of our era by launching new disciplines and faculties, most recently the Faculty of Arts and Design, offering unprecedented specializations closely aligned with practical and industrial application. It has further signed numerous agreements for dual degrees and secured international accreditations for its qualifications across a wide range of disciplines, a testament to the breadth of the Academy’s academic offerings, its societal impact, and its capacity to enrich the Arab labor market across diverse fields.
Today, we launch a new strategy that defines the contours of the coming era as envisioned by AASTMT’s family. It sets forth ambitions aligned with global transformations and reaffirms our commitment to world-class higher education, rigorous scientific research in future-oriented disciplines, and active participation in labor market development. This includes upskilling and reskilling, offering scientific and technical expertise for major development projects, deepening our regional and global leadership in maritime education and training, and implementing community development initiatives that shape and elevate the realities of Arab societies. All of this will be underpinned by advanced institutional systems capable of sustaining the continuous expansion of academic specializations, thereby driving progress and prosperity across our region.
While our vision reflects boundless ambition, clear goals, and a steadfast commitment to our mission and Arab identity, our strategic objectives identify specific areas for development. Many of these goals focus on the role of Artificial Intelligence in the coming phase, its profound impact on society, on teaching, learning, and assessment, and on the radical changes in the labor market that will redefine the skills and competencies required of graduates. While our aspirations are high and our pursuit of excellence is relentless, we remain committed to our values, which guide and correct our path whenever necessary. Alignment, sound Leadership, Excellence, Dignity, mutual Respect, Accountability, and Knowledge will continue to be the driving forces behind our realization of this vision and the attainment (AL-EDRAK) of our desired status. We stand firmly on our common grounds of enduring values and moral convictions; we are constantly inspired by our honorable tradition, and our gaze remains fixed on a promising future for the Arab nation.
To achieve our strategic goals, we must unite our efforts and share a deep belief in the power of science to transform societies and improve lives. Success will require the continuous dedication of the entire AASTMT family to realize the vision expressed in this strategy and achieve its ambitious goals. Just as we all contributed to the formulation of this plan, its fulfillment will depend on the determination, support, and constructive thought from every one of us. We are fully aware that meaningful change does not occur overnight. It is the result of steady, deliberate effort; of laying firm foundations and committing ourselves to disciplined, sustained work until the aspirations of this ambitious plan are translated into more tangible and lasting outcomes.
I pray to Almighty God to grant us success in this new chapter of the Academy’s rich and honorable history.
Prof. Ismail Abdel Ghaffar Ismail Farag
President,
Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport