Algeria
- After obtaining a master's degree from Fayoum University in Egypt, Dr. Mahmoud Abdel Hafeez moved abroad to continue his university studies, in an experience that may be unique, as he gained knowledge from prestigious universities on the four continents.
From Egypt to Germany and Belgium, then China and Russia, and then America and Sweden;
Abdel Hafeez has gained many and varied experiences in the field of "Materials Physics", which is the experience he shares with us in this interview:
Where did the journey of seeking knowledge outside Egypt begin?
After receiving my master's degree from Fayoum University in Egypt, I received a PhD scholarship from the University of Dresden in Germany.
After completing my doctorate in 2012, I had a presence in more than one university while preparing post-doctoral research, as I worked for a year in Belgium at Liege University in 2013, and after two years worked at Peking University in China until 2015, then returned to Germany, and worked at Frankfurt University for 3 years to year 2018.
After that, I applied for a position as an associate professor at Harvard University in the United States and won it after passing more than one test. While working at Harvard, I was awarded this year a research project from Uppsala University in Sweden, and now I have two jobs at Uppsala Universities in Sweden and Harvard in America.
Dr. Mahmoud Abdel Hafeez at the University of Frankfurt in 2018 (communication sites)
Tell us about your specialty and its importance?
My general specialty is the study of the physical properties of materials, especially those that conduct electricity in a superior way, that is, without any energy loss.
The material currently used to transmit power is copper compounds, which is a good conductor but not a superconductor;
So the goal I'm after is a superconducting material.
Access to this material will cause an industrial revolution in the field of energy;
The Arab world - for example - has no problem with energy, but with energy loss, and this happens in all fields.
I will give you an example that reveals the access value of this article;
The high-speed electric train in China, which travels 900 kilometers per hour, reaches this level of speed because its rails contain superconducting materials that prevent friction between the wheels and the rails, because friction leads to energy loss, so it feels as if the train is not walking on rails.
The material that we seek to reach will help increase the speed above this rate, and access to such material helps increase the efficiency of electrical connection from solar power stations to the main station, and prevents the problem of power outages.
Dr. Mahmoud Abdel Hafeez at Peking University in China in 2015 (communication sites)
Your first scientific station abroad was in Germany. What are the advantages of working within the German scientific research system?
University education in Germany depends on the development of the student's various skills in all disciplines, by knowing the students' tendencies and then directing them with the help of their parents to what is best for them from an academic and scientific point of view.
The German government pays great attention to scientific research, and therefore the annual budget allocated to scientific research has not changed despite the health crisis that the world has known due to the Corona virus.
After about 10 years in German universities, I say - with confidence - that the secret of the strength of that system is team spirit and fruitful scientific cooperation among its members, as experiences and knowledge are exchanged between scientists of multiple nationalities and in different disciplines with the utmost harmony and scientific transparency.
What are the most important scholarships that an Arab student in Germany can benefit from?
There are DAAD scholarships, which are free and are a good opportunity for students with at least two years of professional experience, and there is the Erasmus scholarship offered by the European Union, which is also free.
As for the non-governmental grants provided by non-governmental organizations, we find, in the first place, the Heinrich Böll Foundation grant for students wishing to obtain master's and doctoral degrees.
There is also the Bayer Foundation Scholarship for students in science and medicine, and the Marie Curie Scholarship created by the European Union to fund researchers throughout their careers, including research conducted in any EU country.
This scholarship allows organizations and universities to develop alliances with many leading institutions around the world.
Inside the Harvard Physics Department with 2018 Nobel Prize winner Donna Strickland (Al-Jazeera)
I moved from Germany to China to complete my post-doctoral research. Why did you choose this country when not many students go to study?
China today is one of the most powerful countries in the world, and it was an important station in my scientific life.
It was there that I was able to publish my first research in the prestigious "Nature" journal.
China is also one of the pioneering countries in material physics research, and I learned a lot there, as it was a good light for me.
How did you find the study there?
Did you encounter difficulties in adapting to the Chinese atmosphere?
In terms of education in China in general, the Chinese government aims to enroll half a million foreign students in universities each year, a figure that shows the extent to which plans have been made to strengthen universities in the country and encourage international students to study in China.
The only obstacle I encountered there was the language problem in everyday dealings in Chinese.
China wants to increase international students in its universities to boost education and economy (Al-Jazeera)
What are the most important university scholarships offered by China to Arab students in particular and to developing countries in general?
Chinese scholarships are divided into 3 main types depending on the type of funding, which are: Chinese government grants, grants from Chinese universities, and grants from organizations and charitable institutions.
Among the most famous scholarships from Chinese universities are the "Schwarzman Scholars Program" and the Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) scholarships. This university offers 72 scholarships to international students each year, which are full scholarships worth 5,000 yuan (about $740) in the month.
On the whole, China - like many countries - wants to receive international students to strengthen the education system and compete with the global economy, and most universities in China have special scholarship programs for international students, and you can find more information on university websites.
What are the similarities and differences in the study between Germany and China?
It is difficult to compare two different countries in terms of geographical, historical and cultural affiliation, but there are interesting fundamental differences between Germany and China, and through my personal experience we will list some points.
There is a difference in terms of protecting the privacy of individuals' lives and monitoring public places;
When I arrived in Shanghai, a city of over 24 million people, it took me a while to get used to the way of life in China.
In addition, Shanghai has seven times the population of Berlin, so its traffic is very frightening and fast.
Another fundamental difference between Germany and China is the attitude to surveillance cameras.
When my German friends heard that even Shanghai parks, which are places to walk and relax, are subject to surveillance cameras, they found it "surprising" and "unbelievable", as China's surveillance system is based on about 570 million cameras.
Dr. Mahmoud Abdel Hafeez (second right) inside the Physics Department at Harvard University (Al-Jazeera)
Tell us about your experience at Harvard University in America?
Harvard University is one of the oldest universities in the world, one of the largest universities in the world, and is also among the best in terms of equipment.
Getting to Harvard University is difficult, but not impossible, and joining the physics department came through a job advertisement within the department, but the conditions were difficult, but the experience I gained in China qualified me to attend it.
The secret of the success of this university lies in the faculty members;
The professors there are kind, friendly and available to students, and their enthusiasm is the perfect complement to the enthusiasm of the students they teach.
For students, what are the admission requirements for Harvard University and the cost of studying at the university?
In addition to the need for the student to have a good average in his previous studies, there is a test called “SAT”, which is a placement test that the university takes in order to be able to determine the capabilities and capabilities of the student applying for study and his educational and personal level. It includes language tests and a set of tests that It measures the student's level in many sciences, and this test is one of the most important tests whose passing is a condition for the student's admission to the university.
Each applicant to study at the university is required to submit a professional CV that contributes to highlighting the student's scientific and study skills, preferably sealed by the universities where he studied previously.
In the end, after passing all the previous tests, you will have a personal interview, which is the last stage before your admission to the university, and it usually takes place through an interview via Skype or a video call, and after you pass the test, the university will send you a study visa, thanks to which you can travel and join the study at the university .
As for the cost of studying, it is effective, as it reaches 60 thousand dollars per year, and the amount does not include accommodation expenses, as you will need another budget for living, food and other matters of life during the study.
Because of the high and exaggerated cost of studying for those who wish to enroll in Harvard University, the university offers many free scholarships to outstanding students worldwide.
While preparing for an experiment at Harvard University in 2020 (Al Jazeera)
You are also a member of the Arab-German Youth Academy of Sciences and Humanities and the Moscow Academy of Sciences, how did you join them?
How did you benefit from them?
I joined the Moscow Academy of Sciences through my nomination by the faculty of the Moscow International University, where I worked for two years.
Through my membership in the Academy, I was able to win a scientific research project funded by the Russian government to study the properties of physical materials. Young researchers from the Russian and Arab sides benefited from this project to complete their research.
As for my membership in the Arab-German Youth Academy of Sciences, the doors are open to all Arab researchers who wish to join it.
This academy is an Arab-German bridge for the promotion of scientific research in the Arab world through the establishment of joint scientific research between German and Arab researchers, and the financing of programs to promote scientific culture or participation in scientific conferences, and I advise Arab researchers to join it to benefit from its services.
Dr. Mahmoud Abdel Hafeez with his research group at Moscow University in 2018 (Al-Jazeera)
Finally, what do you advise Arab students who want to study in China and Western universities in general?
I invite them first to study the English language, then studying abroad requires choosing a good supervisor and a strong working group in the student’s specialization, with the need to pay attention to the quality, content and form of the research project, and to pay attention to its applications that are most beneficial to humanity, and to stay away from quantity and number at the expense of quality for certification or scientific promotion. .
I also invite students to make more efforts in self-development;
For example, what I studied at Fayoum University and found it completely inappropriate abroad, because there is a great development that has taken place and we have not yet reached.
The student should seek to establish scientific cooperation with his colleagues at the university and exchange experiences with them and try to open simple private channels with scientists and researchers in various universities around the world;
To always be on the lookout for what is happening in his field.