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Prof. Ahmed Abdullah Zayed

Prof. Ahmed Abdullah Zayed Hegab was appointed Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in August 2022. He has worked as a Professor of Sociology at the Faculty of Arts, Cairo University, since 1991. He took on many administrative and academic positions over the past years, in addition to his experience in the field of translation and scientific publishing. He has received many awards throughout his career, and has been participating in general cultural work by writing periodically for newspapers and magazines and contributing to many conferences and symposia. He also writes bi-weekly articles for Al-Ahram newspaper.

Administrative Experience

  • Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Cairo University (2005-2009).

  • Vice Dean for Postgraduate Studies and Research, Faculty of Arts, Cairo University (2002-2004).

  • Cultural Attaché for the Egyptian Embassy in Riyadh (1998-2001).

  • Founder of the Center for Research and Social Studies, Faculty of Arts, Cairo University (1994).

  • Director of the Center for Research and Social Studies, Faculty of Arts, Cairo University for intermittent periods (1994-2018).

  • Consultant for the Social Studies Program, Information Decision Support Center, Egyptian Cabinet (2009-2012).

  • Dean of Helwan Leadership Qualification Institute, Ministry of Higher Education (2009-2011).

  • Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Faculty Members Club, Cairo University (2009-2011).

  • Vice President of the Arab Sociological Association (1996-2016).

  • Representative of the Arab Republic of Egypt twice in the meetings of the Social and Human Sciences Committee at UNESCO during the General Conference.

  • Head of the Sociology Department at the Institute of Arab Research and Studies.

Academic Experience

  • Taught at many Egyptian and non-Egyptian universities, such as Qatar University, United Arab Emirates University, Omdurman Islamic University, and Bielefeld University in Germany.

  • Attended international and regional conferences in Germany, Spain, Kenya,
    Sri Lanka, China, Japan, France, Argentina, Belgium, Italy, Kuwait,
    United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Jordan, Syria, and the Sultanate of Oman.

  • Participated in the establishment of a number of departments and colleges in Egypt and the Arab world.

  • Member of the Joint Committee for the Establishment of National Universities (Galala University, King Salman International University, Alamein International University, New Mansoura University, Technology Universities) under the supervision of the Minister of Higher Education.

  • Worked as a Visiting Lecturer in a number of Arab and foreign universities and research centers.

  • Supervised a number of theses at Egyptian universities and the Institute of Research and Arab Studies.

Membership of Committees and Councils

  • Member of the Egyptian Senate.

  • Member of the International Group of Experts to Review the 1974 Recommendation Concerning Education for International Understanding,
    Co-operation and Peace and Education Relating to Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (UNESCO Document of 19 November 1974).

  • Rapporteur of the Family Library Committee at the Egyptian General Book Organization (Ministry of Culture).

  • Chairman of the Social Sciences Committee of the National Committee of UNESCO.

  • Member of the National Council for Women.

  • Member of the Board of Trustees of Galala University.

  • Rapporteur of the Council of Social Sciences and Population, Academy of Scientific Research.

  • Secretary of the Supreme Committee for the Follow-up of the Academic Committees for the Promotion of Professors and Assistant Professors, Supreme Council of Universities.

  • Member of the Board of Trustees of the National Academy for Youth Training and Rehabilitation.

  • Member of the Board of Directors of the National Center for Social and Criminological Research.

  • Member of the Board of Directors of the Social Studies and Research Center, Cairo University.

  • Member of the Board of Trustees of the National Academy for Qualifying and Training Preachers at the Ministry of Awqaf.

  • Rapporteur of the Committee to Combat Extremism and Terrorism at the Supreme Council of Culture.

  • Member of the Advisory Committee of the Egyptian National Library and Archives.

  • Member of the Higher Executive Committee for Scholarships at the Ministry of Higher Education.

Experience in Translation and Review

  • Participation in the translation of the Al Mawso’a Al Arabiya Al Moyasara, issued by the Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Foundation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

  • Translation of the book The Public Sphere: Liberal Modernity, Catholicism, Islam, authored by Armando Salvatore, National Center for Translation (2012).

  • Translation of the book Life as Politics: How Ordinary People Change the Middle East, authored by Asef Bayat, National Center for Translation (2014).

  • Translation of the book States and Social Movements, authored by Hank Johnston, National Center for Translation (2017).

  • Translation of the book Sociology of the Sacred, authored by Muller and Schelling, National Center for Translation (2019).

  • Translation of the book Making Islam Democratic, authored by Asef Bayat, National Center for Translation.

  • Translation of the book The Social Mind, authored by Jane Suilin Lavelle, National Center for Translation (in publication).

  • Participation in the translation of the Encyclopedia of Sociology, the Supreme Council of Culture.

  • Participation in the translation of the Encyclopedia of Anthropology, the Supreme Council of Culture.

  • Participation in the translation of the book The Third Way, and Introduction to Sociology, authored by Anthony Giddens.

  • Translation of a number of articles in the International Social Science Journal issued by UNESCO.

  • Participation in the translation of the book American Sociology: A Study of the Works of Talcott Parsons, published by Dar Al Maaref (1981).

  • Review of ten books from the publications of the Supreme Council of Culture and the National Center for Translation in Egypt.

Participation in Civil Society Activities

  • Founded the Reading Forum, a non-governmental organization that works to encourage reading, develop reading skills, and create a solid foundation of knowledge for researchers in the field of social sciences.

  • Chairman of the Egyptian Sociological Association.

  • Member of the Board of Directors of the Red Crescent Society in Giza.

  • Member of the Egyptian Philosophical Society.

  • Allocated an annual award for outstanding students in his hometown in Minya Governorate.

Awards

  • Prof. Dr. Ihab Ismail Award for Scientific Excellence (2004).

  • The State Prize for Scientific Excellence in Social Sciences (2004).

  • The State Appreciation Award in Social Sciences (2007).

  • Cairo University Award for Excellence in Social Sciences (2011).

  • Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award for Humanities and Future Studies (2021).

Scientific Production

His list of publications comprises more than 200 titles, including books, reviewed scientific articles, conference articles, and translated books. Among his most important books are: (1) The Contradictions of Modernity in Egypt, (2) The Political Structure in the Egyptian Countryside, (3) The State between Theories of Modernization and Subordination, (4) Features of Religious Discourse in Egypt, (5) The Contemporary Egyptian: A Theoretical and Empirical Comparison of Some Dimensions of the Egyptian National Identity, (6) Sociology: Classical and Critical Theories, (7) An Introduction to Political Sociology, (8) Discourse of Daily Life in Egypt, and (9) The Voice of the Imam: Religious Discourse from Context to Reception. This is in addition to supervising major published research projects on violence in daily life, violence between school students, socialization in the Arab world, children’s engagement in the Arab world, and the cultural frameworks governing the behaviors and inclinations of Egyptians.