as he explains. “The forum is an exemplary model that aims at sharing perspectives related to both the technical skills and personality traits of the graduates of the future. Ultimately, it is a sounding board used to check the relevance and impact of both teaching and research and to recalibrate as needed.” A voice for change & progress Over the past five years, the forum has taken an increasingly global approach, expanding the reach of discussions and insights beyond the school’s traditional sphere of influence. In 2022, for example, it introduced the Business Schools for Africa (BS4CL) initiative under the umbrella of the UN’s Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME). BS4CL arranged for Onsi Sawiris School of Business to collaborate with five other leading business schools on the subject of climate change.
studies and work prospects during a time of worldwide restrictions, highlighting the value of providing mentorship schemes, flexibility and new opportunities for international interactions. Panel chair and associate professor of management at Onsi Sawiris School of Business Randa El Bedawy observed that business schools “need to note that the power of online learning will have a lasting impact on education”. In this vein, the school has
fostered various initiatives to help guide students, while also offering them international exposure and experience. The school’s El-Khazindar Business Research and Case Centre (KCC) took the lead in offering virtual international case competitions as part of its mission to put the case method at the forefront of business education. Following on from the 2019 launch of the International Case Competition (ICC), KCC established the International Case Development Competition last year and has now engaged students from more than 40 universities and 30 nationalities. These competitions help widen the school’s international reach and enrich the student experience. As KCC director Engy Magdy noted, while “cases are a practical tool to give exposure to the real world, international case competitions like the ICC have an even wider impact and reach”. Further competitions have been launched by faculty members, as part of efforts to provide students with practical experiences that enrich their leadership capabilities. The annual Finomics Stock Trading Competition, for instance, was launched in 2022 by finance professors Wael Abdallah and Mina Ayad with the aim of helping students understand financial principles by practising investment and experimenting with strategic decision-making. In 2021, the school also launched the Co-operative Education Programme (CO-OP), giving students the opportunity to intern at local and multinational businesses in Egypt. With support from accounting professor Ahmed Abdel Meguid, more than 100 students have benefited from CO-OP programme placements, helping shape career aspirations, interests and capacity building. For this initiative and others like it, Abdel Meguid believes the AUC Business Forum is a vital source of continuous improvement,
“The forum is a sounding board to check the relevance and impact of teaching and research and to recalibrate as needed”
26 Business Impact • ISSUE 2 • 2026
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