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Under the patronage of Prof. Yasser Magdy Hatata, President of Fayoum University, Major General Atef Abdel Raouf, Director of the Military Academy for Postgraduate and Strategic Studies, and the supervision of Prof. Assem Fouad El-Essawy, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development, and Major General Mahmoud Mohamed Mahmoud Amin, Director of the National Defense College, the cultural course on strategic studies and national security was launched. The course is organized in cooperation between Fayoum University and the Military Academy for Postgraduate and Strategic Studies. The course will be held in the central hall of the Institute for Research and Strategic Studies for Nile Basin Countries, from October 19 to 22, 2025.
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On the first day, Major General Dr. Saeed El-Salhi, Advisor to the Military Academy for Postgraduate and Strategic Studies, gave a lecture on the topic of "National Strategic Planning." Dr. Wafaa Yousry, Director of the Public Service Center for Community Development at the university, and a number of faculty members, administrators, and students participating in the course were also present. Dr. Wafaa Yousry emphasized the importance of these events in raising national and strategic awareness among university students and staff, noting Fayoum University's commitment to supporting educational initiatives that contribute to building an enlightened student mindset capable of analyzing contemporary challenges with a scientific and methodical mindset.
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She added that cooperation with the Military Academy reflects the state's commitment to transferring national expertise to younger generations and enhancing their understanding of national planning mechanisms and their connection to security and development. She emphasized that participation in these programs represents an important step toward preparing cadres capable of contributing to shaping the future of the Egyptian state with a conscious and responsible spirit.
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For his part, Major General Dr. Saeed Al-Salhi pointed out that national strategic planning represents the foundation upon which the strength and sustainability of nations are built. He explained that it is a scientific and systematic process aimed at identifying long-term national goals and developing the plans and policies necessary to achieve them.
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He also addressed the concept of strategic deterrence, which is not limited to military force alone, but also encompasses political, economic, technological, and media deterrence, ensuring the stability of the state and enhancing its ability to confront challenges. He explained that the participatory theory of strategic planning is based on the cooperation of all state institutions in developing plans and making strategic decisions, achieving national integration and preventing policy conflicts.
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He spoke about the strategic planning methodology in Egypt, implemented through the Presidency's Decision Support and Action Centers, which prepare the necessary studies and analyses to monitor the implementation of development plans at the governorate level and measure the extent to which national goals are achieved. He emphasized that this methodology contributes to linking planning to national security and supporting the state's ability to manage hybrid wars, analyze strategic depth, and accurately assess situations.
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He pointed out that modern technology represents a fundamental pillar of the strategic planning system, whether in collecting and analyzing information or in supporting decision-makers through smart databases and digital monitoring and follow-up systems. He explained that digital transformation is a strategic tool for enhancing the state's efficiency in managing its resources and facing future challenges.
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At the conclusion of the first day, a set of applied reports issued by the Decision Support and Action Centers in the Egyptian governorates was presented, including practical models for measuring the levels of strategic planning on the ground. On the second day of the course, Dr. Nevin Wahdan, a lecturer at the Military Academy for Postgraduate and Strategic Studies, delivered a lecture on the elements of strategic planning, namely vision, mission, and values. She explained that these elements represent the compass that determines the direction of the state and its institutions toward achieving national goals.
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She also reviewed the difference between planning and strategy, emphasizing that efficiency and effectiveness are the two main conditions for achieving goals. She explained that efficiency reflects the proper use of resources, while effectiveness reflects the extent to which desired results are achieved.
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She discussed the strategic planning tree and its basic stages, which begin with strategic thinking, proceeding to analyzing the internal and external environment, then identifying possible alternatives, followed by executive planning, and finally culminating in evaluation, performance measurement, and reviewing plans to ensure continuity and continuous improvement.
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She also reviewed the strategic planning tools that countries rely on in formulating their national decisions, including politics, economics, culture, technology, and the environment, emphasizing that these tools represent an integrated system that interacts to shape the state's comprehensive strength and achieve national security. She also pointed out the importance of analyzing the strategic position and the close relationship between the internal and external environments, emphasizing that the success of any strategy depends on the decision-maker's ability to understand the interactions between the two sides, identify opportunities and challenges, and develop plans to achieve a balance between national capabilities and regional and international variables.
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The symposium concluded with an open dialogue to address various questions and discussions from the participants. The lecturer emphasized that building an enlightened strategic mindset among youth and institutional employees represents a fundamental step in supporting the Egyptian state towards achieving sustainable development. She emphasized that scientific and systematic planning is the path to consolidating the concepts of comprehensive strength and national stability.
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