Dr. Ahmed El-Kased, President of Menoufia University, announced that the university’s student team EcoPack won second place worldwide in the Hult Prize competition in London—one of the world’s largest international contests in the field of social entrepreneurship. The competition annually brings together thousands of students from different universities worldwide to develop practical and sustainable solutions to major global challenges. This achievement adds a new international milestone to the distinguished record of Menoufia University.
The winning team—comprised of Amr Khaled Abdel Latif Serag (Faculty of Commerce), Abdelraouf Nasser Gouda El-Gazir (Faculty of Engineering), and Mohamed Khaled Mohamed El-Kharbawy (Faculty of Science)—not only secured second place but also received a fully funded Master’s scholarship at Hult International Business School in London. This recognition of their efforts and innovation offers them a significant opportunity to enrich their academic and professional experience on an international level.
Dr. El-Kased explained that the Hult Prize is globally known as the “Nobel Prize for Students” due to its prestige and value. The competition aims to encourage young people to launch entrepreneurial projects that serve communities and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The contest is organized in several stages: starting with local competitions within universities, followed by national and regional qualifiers, and concluding with the global finals where the strongest student teams from around the world compete.
In Egypt, the Hult Prize is held under the patronage of Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, as part of the Egyptian state’s commitment to encouraging creativity and innovation among university students, empowering youth to provide practical solutions to developmental challenges, and contributing to Egypt Vision 2030.
This year’s national competition witnessed strong competition among 60 teams from different Egyptian universities, where students presented their entrepreneurial projects before expert juries consisting of specialists, entrepreneurs, and business leaders. The Menoufia University team won first place locally, qualifying to represent Egypt in the regional and global stages, where they ultimately secured second place worldwide among 24 finalist teams from various countries.
Dr. El-Kased stressed that Menoufia University places great emphasis on discovering and nurturing the talents and abilities of its students, especially in entrepreneurship and innovation. The university provides continuous support starting from the early stages of local competitions, through preparation for regional and international contests. It also strives to create an integrated educational and training environment that empowers students to unleash their creativity and transform their ideas into implementable projects that benefit society.
Expressing his pride in the students’ achievement, the University President affirmed that this success is the result of the university’s ongoing efforts to provide an environment that fosters excellence and international competitiveness. He emphasized that winning second place worldwide in the Hult Prize is a historic accomplishment that raises the university’s name on the global stage, demonstrates the students’ ability to innovate, and reflects the national strategy for higher education as well as the vision of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to support innovation and nurture talented youth.
He further stressed that the university will continue to support its outstanding students by expanding business incubators, organizing workshops and training programs in entrepreneurship and innovation, and encouraging participation in international competitions and events. This, he noted, contributes to preparing a new generation of graduates capable of meeting labor market challenges and actively participating in comprehensive development.
Dr. El-Kased extended his gratitude to Dr. Ghada Ali Hassan, Executive Coordinator for International Relations and Coordinator of the Innovators and Geniuses Support Fund at the university, as well as to all faculty members, supervisors, and administrative staff who contributed to this achievement. He highlighted that this success was the outcome of collective collaboration and integrated effort, and the university is proud of everyone who helped elevate its name in the international arena.
For their part, the winning team members expressed their great joy at the achievement, emphasizing that it was the result of teamwork and continuous effort. They stated that this experience provided them with valuable skills and exposure to international teams, and they expressed pride in representing both Menoufia University and Egypt on the global stage. They also extended their gratitude to the university administration for its continuous support from the project’s inception until their victory.
The EcoPack team explained that their project idea aligns with Egypt’s and the world’s orientation toward the green economy and sustainability. The project focuses on recycling sugarcane waste into eco-friendly products that can be used as safe alternatives to plastic and metal utensils. These products provide a practical solution that helps protect the environment, reduce pollution, and offer a more economical option for consumers.
The project also stands out for its reusability, making it an innovative and sustainable alternative to traditional tools, with potential for future expansion into producing a diverse range of household and practical items to meet both local and global market needs.