Marywood University and AASTMT Continue to Strengthen Global Academic Partnership

Marywood Explores Egypt

Marywood University and the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) in Egypt continue to build on their strong academic partnership. The collaboration includes a growing 1+1 MBA program where students spend their first year in Egypt and finish their degree at Marywood. The partnership also offers a fully online PhD program that connects students across continents with Marywood faculty.

A Marywood delegation recently traveled to Egypt to celebrate the graduation of the second MBA cohort and to explore new opportunities for expanding the partnership. During the visit, the team discussed the possibility of adding additional MBA majors and creating future experiences for undergraduate students.

The delegation, which included President Lisa Lori, James Eckler and Jessica A. Quintana Hess, toured several AASTMT campuses to learn more about their programs, students and potential areas for future collaboration.

Farah Ibrahim was also present for family-related travel and AASTMT–Marywood meetings and participated in the AASTMT ceremony, though President Lori, James and Jessica were the primary representatives for the visit.

This growing partnership reflects Marywood’s commitment to global engagement, academic innovation and meaningful international collaboration.

Egyptian Delegation Visit to Marywood University

Marywood University’s global partnership with the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) in Egypt reached an important milestone with the December 6–10, 2025 visit of an Egyptian delegation to campus. The visit marked the first time AASTMT President Professor Dr. Ismail Abdel Ghaffar Ismail Farag traveled to Marywood, underscoring the strength and momentum of the collaboration between these two institutions.

During their time on campus, the delegation met with Marywood leadership, faculty, students, and trustees to deepen their understanding of the University and the greater Scranton community. Conversations focused on shared academic priorities and new initiatives, campus tours highlighted facilities across architecture and health sciences, and community meals fostered meaningful connections between institutional representatives, Marywood community members, current 1+1 MBA students and alumni.

A formal signing ceremony solidified intentions to expand the partnership beyond graduate education into undergraduate pathways and additional disciplines, including architecture, education, engineering fields, business, computer science, aviation management, and healthcare administration. These discussions reflect a shared commitment to increasing educational access and creating globally connected learning opportunities.

The visit aligns closely with Marywood’s 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, Into the Future – Defining What’s Next, which emphasizes global engagement, innovation, and mission-driven growth. Marywood leadership expressed strong enthusiasm for advancing this vision alongside AASTMT, opening new doors for students from the United States, Egypt, and around the world.

The whole delegation included:

Professor Dr. Ismail Abdel Ghaffar Ismail Farag, President of the AASTMT(first time visiting MU) 

Professor Dr. Amr E. Youssef Aziz, Associate Dean for Educational Affairs, Graduate School of Business

Professor Dr. Amr Elhelw, Dean of International Agreements & Cooperation Center

Dr. Ayman Ghoneim, Assistant to the President of the Academy for External Relations and Protocol (first time visiting MU) 

Prof. Aiman Ragab, Dean of the Graduate School of Business

Dr. Samer Elmasri, Chief Financial Officer (first time visiting MU)