Dr. Ahmed El-Kased, President of Menoufia University, and Dr. Sobhy Sharaf, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development, attended the closing session of the 10th International Arab Impact Factor Conference, held under the theme “Scientific Publishing and the Knowledge Economy” at King Khalid University in Abha, Saudi Arabia. The event was organized in partnership with the Association of Arab Universities and the Federation of Arab Scientific Research Councils, with broad participation from Egyptian public and private universities. Distinguished attendees included Dr. Amr Ezzat Salama, Secretary-General of the Association of Arab Universities; the Egyptian Consul General in Jeddah; Dr. Essam Sharaf, Former Prime Minister of Egypt; and Dr. Ahmed Said Fahim, Egyptian Cultural Attaché in Riyadh. Dr. Ahmed Refai from Menoufia University’s Faculty of Science also took part.

Dr. El-Kased stated that the conference featured a diverse program of interactive panel discussions and specialized research papers, addressing the latest issues in scientific publishing and its role in building the knowledge economy. Key sessions included:

• “How to Build a Globally Competitive Publishing System?” – addressing requirements for an Arab scientific publishing system capable of global competitiveness.

• “Open Access Publishing: Opportunities for Growth and Quality Challenges” – discussing the importance of open access in expanding knowledge dissemination and the challenges of maintaining quality.

• “From Measurement to Decision: Using Data to Improve Performance” – highlighting the role of data analytics and AI in supporting academic decision-making and enhancing research performance.

• “Aligning Incentives and Academic Promotions with University Strategies” – stressing the need to reform promotion and incentive systems to match institutional priorities and international quality standards.

The conference also presented papers on building a globally competitive publishing system, research integrity based on honesty, transparency, neutrality, and accountability, the importance of robust peer-review systems, academic ethics, and the impact of open access publishing on citations, while addressing challenges such as weak governance and the limited number of Arab journals indexed internationally.

The event concluded with a set of recommendations on publishing mechanisms, academic quality standards, strategies for improving global rankings, and the role of the Arab Impact Factor in evaluating scientific journals. During the closing ceremony, participating institutions and individuals were honored, including Dr. Ahmed El-Kased, President of Menoufia University, who expressed his pride in receiving the award. He emphasized that this recognition is the result of collective effort and fruitful collaboration among faculty, students, and researchers at the university. He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to advancing its strategic plan to enhance global research standing, expand international cooperation with leading universities and research centers, and align with Egypt’s National Strategy for Higher Education and Vision 2030.

The honor also reflects Menoufia University’s pioneering role in adopting modern research strategies, encouraging faculty and researchers to publish in prestigious journals, and linking scientific output to sustainable development and community service. The university has become a model in the Arab world for integrating research with societal needs and leveraging knowledge to advance sustainable development goals.