Dr. Sherif Fakhry Mohamed Abdel Nabi, President of the Egyptian-Russian University (ERU) in Cairo, announced that the Board of Trustees of the University, headed by Dr. Mohamed Kamal Mustafa, issued a decision appointing Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Orabi Ibrahim, Professor of Photography and former Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts at Luxor University, as Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts at the ERU.

His Excellency also reported on the issued decision approving the start of the study at the Faculty of Fine Arts at the university as of the first semester of the academic year 2022-2023, adding that due to the occasion of the opening of the faculty, the university announces a 25% discount on the fees of the academic year 2022-2023.

The President of the ERU in Cairo explained that the “Faculty of Fine Arts” is one of the enlightenment and pioneer faculties regarding the elevation of the general artistic taste in the society. He added that the faculty includes specialties needed by the labor market, whether at the local, regional, or international level, and accepts students who would like to work in the fields of arts of all kinds, noting that admission is available to graduates of high school of any specialty. The faculty offers five main specializations, namely:

• Digital Media Arts specialization in the fields of “animation, entertainment arts and digital games design, and motion design”.
• Environmental Design specialization in the fields of “interior architecture and furnishing, architecture and landscape design, and scenography”.
• Visual Arts specialization in the fields of “painting and multimedia, sculpture and installation in space, printing art, and photography”.
• Puppets and Stereoscopic Toys Design specialization.
• Visual Communication Arts specialization in the fields of “advertising design, graphic design, and illustration”.

Dr. Abdel Nabi added that the university now includes eight faculties, namely: “Oral and Dental Medicine, Pharmacy, Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Management, Economics and Business Technology, Languages, Applied Arts, and Fine Arts”, which meet the needs of the local and international labor market of university graduates as well as those of scientific research bodies.

It is worth mentioning that Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Orabi Ibrahim has outstanding contributions in the field of the regional and global visual arts movement in its creative, educational, and administrative dimensions and has progressed in the academic degrees of his work from being a Teaching Assistant at the “Faculty of Fine Arts” in Luxor at the beginning of its establishment to a Professor. The following are his main highlights:

• Full Professor at the Department of Photography and former Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts in Luxor, former South Valley University, currently Luxor University.
• Honorary President and Founder of the South International Salon, which he founded in 2010 and became one of the most prominent visual arts events in Egypt.
• Fellow of the Albertina Academy of Fine Arts, Turin, Italy.
• One of the founders of the Faculty of Fine Arts of the former South Valley University, currently Luxor University.
• Founder of the Conference on Art and Community Service.
• Founder of the graduate studies at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Luxor University.
• Founder of the theater team of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Luxor University.
• Founder of the Art Movement from the People to the People (AFPP).
• Founder of the Luxor International Visual Arts Forum (LIVAF).
• Writer and critic in visual arts.

It is also worth mentioning that Dr. Mohamed Orabi holds the following scientific qualifications:

1996:

– PhD in Fine Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts in Zamalek, Helwan University, Joint Supervision with Washington State University (WSU), USA, dissertation entitled: “Symbolism in Ancient Egyptian Civilizations and Its Impact on the Art of Photography of the Researcher”.

1991:

  – Master of Fine Arts, Painting Art specialization, Faculty of Fine Arts in Zamalek, Helwan University, thesis entitled: “The Artistic Style of the Nabis Group and Its Relationship to Modern European Art”.

1984:

– Bachelor of Fine Arts, Photography specialization, Faculty of Fine Arts in Zamalek, Helwan University, top of the class.

Academic and administrative experience:

2021:

– Full Professor at the Department of Photography, Faculty of Fine Arts, Luxor University.

2017–2021:

– Professor and Head of the Department of Photography, Faculty of Fine Arts in Luxor, South Valley University.

2010–2017:

  – Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts in Luxor, South Valley University.

2006–2010:

– Vice Dean for Education and Student Affairs, Faculty of Fine Arts in Luxor, South Valley University.

2008:

– Professor at the Department of Photography, Faculty of Fine Arts, Luxor University.

2006:

– Assistant Professor, Department of Photography, Faculty of Fine Arts, South Valley University.

– Vice Dean for Education and Student Affairs, Faculty of Fine Arts, South Valley University.

2003–2006:

– Full delegation from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Minya University, to work as Assistant Professor of Photography at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Luxor, South Valley University.

– Acting Vice Dean for Education and Student Affairs, Faculty of Fine Arts, South Valley University.

2000–2002:

– Full delegation to work as a Teacher of Photography at the Department of Photography at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Luxor, South Valley University.

– Acting Vice Dean for Education and Student Affairs, Faculty of Fine Arts in Luxor, South Valley University.

1996–1999:

– Teacher of Photography, Department of Photography, taught for the “Bachelor and Master Degrees”, Faculty of Fine Arts, Minya University.

1994–1996:

– Artist and Visiting Researcher at the Department of Fine Arts and the Department Anthropology, Washington State University (WSU), USA, Member of the Joint Supervision Mission, Egyptian Missions Department, Minya University.

– Studio Scholarship at the Department of Fine Arts, Washington State University (WSU).

1991–1996:

– Assistant Lecturer, Department of Photography, Faculty of Fine Arts, Minya University.

1991–1985:

– Demonstrator, Department of Photography, Faculty of Fine Arts, Minya University.

Assignments and Scientific Participations:

– Supervision and discussion of many Master and PhD theses at the Faculties of Fine Arts, Education, and Specific Education.

– Full delegation to work at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Luxor from 2000 to 2006.

– Faculty of Specific Education in Assiut, Department of Art Education, Assiut University, 1996–1999.

– Faculty of Education in Assiut, Department of Art Education, 1996–1999.

– Faculty of Education, Minya University, Department of Art Education, 1996–1999.

– Faculty of Specific Education, South Valley University, 1999–2003.

– Institute of Restoration of Antiquities in Luxor, Ministry of Education, 2000–2006. 

– Associate member of the committees for the preparation of scientific and artistic conferences held at the faculty.

– Associate member of the committees for the preparation of scientific content in the department and the development of the regulation for the years of transfer.

– Supervision of the establishment and coordination of exhibitions of student experiences and faculty members.

– Associate member of the delegation of South Valley University participating in the Egyptian Universities Youth Week.