The American University in Cairo (AUC) welcomed Mrs Jane Ittogi Shanmugaratnam, First Lady of Singapore, for a special visit to its New Cairo campus. She was accompanied by a Singaporean delegation and received by Ehab Abdel-Rahman, AUC provost; Hala El Said, university counsellor; and Hania Sholkamy, associate professor at the Social Research Center.
“AUC is honored to host Mrs Ittogi and her delegation. This visit is powerful evidence of the role universities play in connecting cultures, nurturing dialogue, and advancing knowledge across borders,” said Provost Abdel-Rahman.
The delegation toured the Rare Books and Special Collections Library (RBSCL), including Mining the Library: An Exhibition by AUC Arts Students in Curatorial Practices. The showcase reinterpreted archival holdings through student-led curatorial projects. They also visited the Creswell Room, which houses Arabic manuscripts, rare books, maps, and historic magazines documenting monuments and heritage sites across Egypt.
Mrs Ittogi met with a group of 15 AUC students, including two from Singapore, to discuss education, cultural exchange, and student life. The dialogue reflected AUC’s mission to prepare students for global leadership while promoting cross-cultural understanding.
The visit underlines AUC’s role as a global university and custodian of knowledge, strengthening ties between Egypt and Singapore through cultural and academic exchange.
