Today corresponding to 18th April 2020, the Supreme Council of Universities’ session no. 699 was held where the top topics that were discussed are those relating to the future plan of the study system and the second semester exams for the academic year 2019-2020 in the framework of the global status concerning the spread of the novel Covid-19.
The Council started the session by introducing the Cabinet’s resolutions; the resolutions no. 606, no. 717, no. 768 and no. 852 for 2020 concerning suspending any events that include large gatherings, suspending study in all schools, institutes and universities and the State’s comprehensive plan to protect citizens against any possible consequences of the novel Covid-19 respectively .
The council discussed all available alternatives for continuing the educational process in a way that reassures achieving the basic requirements and the minimal level of the standards of completing the courses in light of the differences of the nature, the study system and the examination methods while abiding by the measures taken by the State to curb the spread of Covid-19.
As for the council keenness on continuing the second term and overriding the students’ advantage and keeping their well-being and security, it decided the following:
- First: Continuing online education via e-learning system till Thursday 30th April 2020. As for the credit hours and points systems the period of the study completion is added to the credit hours fulfilled by the student.
- Second: as for non-final year students:
- Second semester oral and written exams are cancelled and the previously indicated grades for them are excluded from the total grades in all years (cumulative grades) and are replaced by one of the following 2 alternatives:
- research paper ( research topic, research project, reference research) that covers courses taught in the second term, every university sets the necessary criteria and guidelines for the research paper depending on the program of each faculty or university. Confirming on the universities’ commitment to revise the submitted research accurately and deny any thesis if there is total or partial plagiarism.
- Online exams that will only be applied by faculties or programs that have the needed infrastructure and technological capabilities to conduct tests online for all students.
The traditional grading system will not be applied, the grades will be limited to a pass or fail.
- If the research paper was found to be inappropriate or the student failed to pass the e-test, the university may test the student again in the same way, and if he failed for the second time, he will not pass the academic year.
- Universities will announce the details about the research paper’s topics and schedules by no later than 7 May, the submission of the projects or online testing will begin on 31st May 2020.
- The faculties, whose regulations include clinical training or practical exams, will have to complete their academic year after the resumption of the study or at the beginning of the new academic year. Every university sets the necessary mechanisms and disciplines to implement the decision taking into account the study system in the different faculties and the circumstances of the international students whom the current status may prevent to attend the training in the upcoming indicated dates.
- As for the taken first semester exams, all regulations and rules shall be implemented among which adding the students’ degrees to the total degree in all academic year (cumulative grades) taking into consideration the study system in each faculty and the different academic courses even completed in the first term or extended to the second semester.
Third: The seniors’ exams at all faculties will be held after the end of the study suspension. The coordination will be entrusted to all the bodies concerned to overcome any obstacle that students may face as a result of the postponement of their graduation.
Fourth: As for the postgraduate students, universities will decide the exam period after the suspension period, the suspension period is not counted as the mandatory duration of study to receive the certificate.
Fifth: The Council decided to form a committee headed by:
Prof. Essam Al-Kurdi – President of Alexandria University.
And the membership of:
Prof. Majid Negm – President of Helwan University.
Prof. Tareq El-Gammal – President of Assiut University.
Prof. Ashraf Abdel Baset – President of Mansoura University.
Prof. Mohamed Latif – Secretary of the Supreme Council of Universities (member and rapporteur).
Prof. Siddik Abdel Salam – Secretary of the Council of Private and National Universities.
Prof. Hassan Ahmed Muhammed – Adviser of the Minister of Higher Education for Institutes Affairs.
The Counselor Mr. Mohamed Al Minshawi – the Legal Adviser of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
The Committee shall follow up the implementation of the decisions of the aforementioned Supreme Council of Universities, receive any inquiries from universities related to their application, examine any special cases, coordinate between universities in this regard, communicate with the concerned authorities to overcome any obstacles that prevent the implementation of the decrees, prepare periodic reports that are presented to the Council on the implementation measures taken to complete the second semester in light of those decisions and consider issues referred to it by the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the matters related to its field of work, the Committee submits its recommendations to the Council for getting approval.