President of Damietta University Participates in the Activities of the First Conference on Egyptian Antiquities and Heritage in the Presence of the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities

Prof. Dr. Hemdan Rabie El-Metwally, President of Damietta University, participated today, Saturday, January 17, 2026, in the activities of the First Conference on Egyptian Antiquities and Heritage, held under the title “Antiquities and Heritage… Egypt’s Soft Power.” The conference took place at the Conference Hall of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, under the patronage of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and was attended by Mr. Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities.

The conference was attended by Prof. Dr. Yosr Ezz El-Raggal, Dean of the Faculty of Archaeology at Damietta University, a number of faculty members from the college, as well as a distinguished group of academics, archaeologists, heads of foreign institutes, specialists, and media professionals.

The opening session of the conference began with a speech delivered by Mr. Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, in which he emphasized that Egyptian antiquities and heritage represent one of the most important sources of the state’s soft power, due to their pivotal role in strengthening national identity and highlighting Egypt’s civilizational and historical standing worldwide. He also pointed to the importance of keeping pace with technological developments and digital transformation in the fields of documentation, preservation, and museum display, in a way that contributes to protecting heritage and supporting sustainable tourism development efforts.

Following the opening session, the first panel discussion was launched, which was dedicated to discussing recent developments in archaeological education in light of technological and digital transformation. Prof. Dr. Hemdan Rabie El-Metwally participated in this session as one of the main speakers.

During his speech, the President of Damietta University reviewed the objectives and themes of the session, stressing the importance of developing curricula and educational programs in the fields of antiquities and heritage, and building qualified human capacities capable of keeping pace with labor market requirements.

He also addressed a number of themes related to digital transformation in archaeological education, and the role of modern technologies such as digital platforms, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality in improving the quality of the educational and training process, linking academic education with practical application, thereby enhancing innovation, raising graduates’ competencies, and supporting efforts to protect and preserve heritage.

The President of Damietta University emphasized the importance of strengthening partnerships between academic institutions and bodies concerned with antiquities, and expanding the scope of local and international cooperation, in a way that contributes to developing the archaeological education system and achieving integration between education, scientific research, and training, which will positively reflect on the archaeological and tourism sectors in Egypt.