Nine professors vie for Cairo University presidency

Nine academics, including six professors of medicine, are vying for the presidency of Cairo University, which is Egypt’s most prestigious state-run institution. The 27 June election for a new leader will be the second since a 2011 revolt toppled Egypt’s long-standing president Hosni Mubarak.

The contenders include Ezz Eddin Abu Steit, an agriculture professor and the university’s vice president; Gaber Nassar, the law faculty’s deputy dean; Alia Abdul Fatah, a medical professor and the first woman to run for the institution’s presidency; and Mohi Mansour, an engineering professor who came second in the 2011 election.

The winner will be chosen through a secret vote by the university’s 152-member electoral college.

Abu Steit and Nassar are seen as the hot favourites for the top post. Abu Steit has at least 50 known supporters in the college, followed by Nassar who is espoused by independents, according to academic observers. Having nine candiates running for the post, however, threatens to split up votes, say the observers.

Abu Steit’s critics say he had links with Mubarak’s now-dissolved National Democratic Party, an allegation he has denied.

"I am an independent candidate with no particular political affiliation," Abu Steit said in a recent interview. He added that his key aim was to "regain the regional and international standing" of the university.

Nassar's electoral programme, as posted on his Facebook page, is based on achieving the university's independence and improving the financial status of its teaching staff and workers.

For decades, leaders and deans of Egypt’s public universities were appointed by the head of state after approval from much-feared security agencies. Following the revolt, which forced Mubarak to step down, the country’s universities were rocked by protests, with protesters demanding an end to the state authorities’ security control of institutions.

Lecturers also pushed for electing universities’ top administrators, a demand accepted by the army generals who ruled the country after Mubarak’s fall until Mohamed Morsi, an engineering professor, took office in June last year as Egypt’s first democratically elected president.

Significantly, only seven academics belonging to the ruling Muslim Brotherhood won in the elections that were conducted in Cairo University’s 24 faculties to form the electoral college that will pick the institution’s new president.

The Brotherhood, from which President Morsi hails, has recently suffered a drop in popularity amid accusations from the secular-leaning opposition of failing to solve Egypt’s social and economic problems and defuse political tensions.

Elections for Cairo University’s presidency will be held three days before massive protests are planned by the opposition against Morsi’s rule.

“At least 80% of the electoral college’s members should show up so that the elections will be valid,” said Wael el-Degwi, head of the electoral commission. He added that the eligible contenders would start campaigning on 24 July, for two days before the 27 July poll.

“In case none of the nominees got more than 50% of the valid votes, a run-off will be held between the two contenders who have gained the highest votes.”

The university’s new president will succeed Hossam Kamel, who reaches the retirement age later this month.