British Embassy in Cairo celebrates 2018 UK Alumni Awards for Egyptian winners

For second year, British Council presents awards to successful Egyptians in their fields

The British Council awarded three Egyptian winners the 2018 UK Alumni Award during an event hosted by British Embassy in Cairo on Monday.

The awards were presented based on the winners’ professional achievements, entrepreneurial success, and social impact. Professor Mahmoud Hafez received the Entrepreneurial Award for his work in medicine, Rehab El- Maghraby was the winner of the Professional Achievement Award for her work in science and education, while the Social Impact Award was given to Osama Fathalla Mohamed.

The event began with an opening speech by Ambassador John Casson, who said, “today we award three of Egypt’s future leaders. Rehab El- Maghraby, Osama Fathalla, and Moahmed Hafez serve as yet another example that the BritishEgyptian academic partnership keeps on giving. When we combine the Egyptian talent with worldclass British education, we can rest assured that the impossible will be accomplished. Our common goal is to expand our partnership so that world- class education can be available to all Egyptians.”

The winners were handed their awards by Engineer Naguib Sawiris, chairperson of Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holding, Hania Sholkamy, anthropology researcher at the American University in Cairo, and Jeff Streeter, director of the British Council in Egypt.

“I have very high respect for the British education system and I did not hesitate to accept the invitation and be part of this event honouring Egyptians who made the best out of their educational background and gave back to their country. This is truly an inspiration for Egyptian youth,” said Sawiris in his speech.

Individuals who receive the honours are leaders in their fields who made a positive impact in their communities or work and have completed their higher learning degrees in UK.

The UK Alumni Award was created by the British Council, in partnership with UK higher education institutions, to honour outstanding success by people who have studied at UK higher education institutions within the last 15 years.

This is the second year the British Council presents the award in Egypt, after a successful launch of the award last year.