Alexandria University's Graduate Studies and Research Council, meeting this morning, Thursday, August 21, 2025, chaired by Dr. Hisham Saeed, Vice President of the University for Graduate Studies and Research, discussed the concept of open access publishing and its importance to researchers at the university.

The Council also discussed the different types of open access publishing, including Gold Open Access Publishing, Green Open Access Publishing, Bronze, Diamond, and Hybrid Open Access Publishing. The meeting also provided examples of each type, as well as the difference between open access publishing and traditional publishing, commonly known to researchers at the university as Closed Access Journals. The presentation also addressed the topic of open access publishing in international indexed journals, known as Predatory Journals, with a presentation of the specifications of these indexed journals and a list of them, known as the Beall's List, and how to identify them. The Council also reviewed the so-called "dark side" of academic publication, which could lead researchers to withdraw published scientific articles (retraction) from these international journals. This could harm researchers and authors, as well as Alexandria University.

The Council also approved some proposed amendments to the Artificial Intelligence curriculum.

The Council also approved the proposal to establish an Office of Research Integrity (ORI) at Alexandria University, under the authority of the Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research. The Council reviewed the organizational structure of this office, the various tasks it will provide to researchers and authors, as well as the procedures and mechanisms for dealing with research withdrawn from international journals.

The Council also recommended identifying the names of auxiliary staff (teaching assistants/assistant lecturers) from the university's faculties and institutes who have exceeded the specified timeframes for obtaining academic degrees. This is in preparation for the implementation of Articles 155 and 156 of the Universities Regulation Law, deducting the two years of the COVID-19.

The Council also discussed the scientific cooperation program between the Faculty of Law and Al-Noor University in Iraq. The Council approved the proposal for a student exchange program between Alexandria University and the University of Chicago in the United States of America, and the partnership agreement between the Mediterranean Foundation and Alexandria University in research and academic fields of mutual interest and the exchange of students and faculty members between the two sides.