Pharos University in Alexandria (PUA), Egypt, and Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Ireland, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to inaugurate their new partnership. The collaboration between both institutions is in the field of Applied Linguistics and includes mutual engagement in undergraduate education, postgraduate studies, and research. Founded in 1592, Trinity is Ireland’s highest ranked university and has produced some of the world’s finest writers such as Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett, a Nobel Prize Laureate. Trinity’s School of Linguistic, Speech and Communication Sciences is an internationally recognized reference point for the scientific study of language, characterized by an emphasis on communication diversity and inclusion, fostering critical curiosity, a nurturing learning environment, and working collaboratively.
The relationship between PUA and TCD started through the XCELING project, a large-scale Erasmus+ capacity-building project co-funded by the European Commission. The project aims to foster the development of research-led teaching in Applied Linguistics in an Egyptian Higher Education context through the enhancement of foreign language teaching methodologies. The team from Trinity visited Alexandria in April 2019 to deliver a series of masterclasses in Applied Linguistics, and were welcomed by Professor Mahmoud Mohy El Din, PUA President. In November 2019, Dr Mohamed AF Ragab, PUA Secretary General, visited Trinity College Dublin and was kindly received by Professor Juliette Hussey, Vice President for Global Relations, and Dr Lorna Carson, Head of the School of Linguistic, Speech and Communication Sciences and XCELING Team Leader. During his visit, plans were progressed for a formal partnership between the Faculty of Languages and Translation at PUA and the School of Linguistic, Speech and Communication Sciences at Trinity.
Professor Mahmoud Mohy El Din, PUA President, expressed his deep satisfaction with the agreement stating, “Trinity College Dublin is a wonderful partner and this step reflects our strategy for internationalization and cooperation with top ranked universities to exchange knowledge and culture.” “We are very excited to extend our work with Trinity College Dublin” added Professor Sahar Hamouda, Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Translation at PUA, “This cooperation will enable us to further develop our teaching of Applied linguistics and expose our staff and students to distinguished expertise from Ireland through the planned academic exchange activities. I would like to sincerely thank Dr. Lorna Carson for her great effort in moving our collaboration forward particularly in a year that was challenged with all the uncertainties of the pandemic.”
From Trinity’s side, Dr. Lorna Carson stated, “I welcome thisdeepening collaboration between our School and the Faculty of Languages and Translation at PUA. Our joint expertise in Applied Linguistics makes this a very meaningful partnership and we look forward to working closely with staff and students from PUA over the coming years.”
PUA is the first private university in the North of Egypt located in the heart of the Mediterranean city of Alexandria. PUA’s modern campus stretches over 50 acres to serve more than 15000 students across twelve faculties. The PUA Faculty of Languages and Translation offers degrees in English, French, Chinese, Spanish and Turkish language in addition to German and Italian as second languages. With a broad background in culture studies, vigorous training in language and translation skills, and integration of technology-based teaching methodologies, the faculty arms students with knowledge and skills for a global job market.
