Heliopolis University


Heliopolis University is a non-profit university in Egypt with the mission of sustainable development. In Fall 2018, Heliopolis University had around 1,700 students in five faculties.

Location

Heliopolis University is located in Salam City, El Horreya, greater Cairo, near Cairo International Airport and Belbeis Desert Road.

Overview

Heliopolis University was established by presidential decree 298/2009 in 2009. In 2012 the first 128 students enrolled in the faculties of Business and Economics, Engineering and Pharmacy.
The idea to create a sustainable university was developed by Ibrahim Abouleish, the leader of the SEKEM initiative, which was founded in 1977. In his vision the university is an important part in the SEKEM Initiative.
Like other parts of SEKEM, the University follows sustainable principles. These principles are divided in different dimensions, like societal, cultural, and business life, which have to go hand in hand with the environment. The SEKEM Initiative handled these four main dimensions in a specific framework, which called sustainable flower.
Based on this framework, students not only learn their specific curricula, but also take lessons in arts, culture, social sciences, environmental studies, and foreign languages. These skills are handled in an obligatory study which is called Core program.
For teaching purposes and to promote sustainability, Heliopolis University operates a wastewater system and several photovoltaic installations, students and staff can use a cafeteria, a restaurant, as well as sport and leisure facilities. Furthermore a botanical garden is integrated in the campus of the University.

Social and Environmental Interaction

Theory:
Praxis:
Since the opening of the faculties of Organic Agriculture and Physical Therapy in 2018,
the Heliopolis University runs five degree-granting faculties. The first academic year started in 2012 with the three faculties in engineering, business and pharmacy. All of these faculties are based on a sustainable concept which keeps the balance between human and environment and theory and practice.
The 5 faculties with Bachelor degrees, master degrees are currently not offered:
FacultyDegrees
Faculty of EngineeringBSc in Water Engineering, BSc in Energy Engineering, BSc in Mechatronics, BSc in Green Architecture
Faculty of Business and EconomicsBSc in Accounting, BSc in Marketing, BSc in Economics and Development, BSc in Management and Human Development, BSc in Finance and Investment
Faculty of Pharmacy and Drug TechnologyBSc in Pharmacy
Faculty of Physical TherapyBSc in Physical Therapy
Faculty of Organic AgricultureBSc in Organic Crop Production, BSc in Food Processing Technology

The Core Program

To encourage students’ learning capacity and to support their different skills, Heliopolis University developed the Core Program. It should maximize the student’s creativity, innovation ability and social responsibility. Furthermore students should learn problem- solving, critical thinking and to deal with stress and big challenges.
To reach these aims the core program implements different learning courses. These are:
The Space of Culture aims to connect different cultures. It is a tool to bring students, professors and people around the world from diverse universities, countries and cultures together. The Space of Culture is based on the philosophy to enable an intercultural meeting point and a crossroad between orient and occident, between West, East, North and South.
This cultural interactivity will provide different programs where people can change ideas and opinions.