Along with the Sawiris family, AUC celebrated the naming of the Onsi Sawiris School of Business in a special ceremony on the New Cairo campus on January 6. 

The school was named in honor of the late Onsi Sawiris, a titan of business in the Middle East, founder of the Orascom Group and patriarch of the family, in appreciation and recognition of a transformative gift from the Sawiris family. The single largest philanthropic gift in the institution’s history, it provides funding to support excellence in business education.

“For the first time, a school at the University is to be named, and it is fitting that it honors Onsi Sawiris — a man who embodied a deep love for Egypt, visionary business acumen and an unwavering commitment to education,” said Mark Turnage (ALU ’82), chair of AUC’s Board of Trustees, at the ceremony. “On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I extend our deepest admiration and appreciation to the Sawiris family: We thank you for your extraordinary generosity, your trust and your partnership.”

“For the first time, a school at the University is to be named, and it is fitting that it honors Onsi Sawiris — a man who embodied a deep love for Egypt, visionary business acumen and an unwavering commitment to education."

AUC President Ahmad Dallal also paid tribute to the enduring Sawiris legacy. “We are here to honor the late Onsi Sawiris — a visionary leader of industry and business whose legacy is carried forward by his three sons, grandchildren and the thousands of people who have been touched by the Sawiris family. Onsi Sawiris was not merely a businessman; he was a pioneer who transformed the way we think about business, leadership and innovation. Despite the many obstacles that lay in his path, Onsi saw opportunities where others saw only barriers.”

The funding will impact the school and its different stakeholders in several ways. It will provide scholarships for students, facilitate interdisciplinary research for faculty, establish a professorship in artificial intelligence and data science, and support visiting faculty and student exchange programs with several leading U.S. business schools and universities, including the University of Chicago –– one of the top worldwide. These collaborations will enable AUC and partner institutions to tackle pressing global issues, such as climate change and economic fluctuations, through multidisciplinary research and best practices, producing graduates who are globally informed, culturally sensitive and driven by innovation. 

“Our partnerships with leading American universities will create pathways for students of the Onsi Sawiris School of Business to develop a global mindset, a nuanced regional understanding and interdisciplinary skills essential to tackling the challenges of the future,” said Dallal.

"Bonds with AUC have also served to reinforce and extend the historic connection between Egypt and UChicago."

Melina Hale, dean of the College at the University of Chicago, highlighted the transformative impact of the Sawiris Scholars Program at UChicago and other U.S. universities: "The University of Chicago has been fortunate to witness while we are celebrating here today the extraordinary and long-standing commitment of the Sawiris family to the cause of education," she said. 

Hale also commeded the University of Chicago's well-established ties with AUC: "The American University in Cairo has played an important part in the Sawiris Scholars program from the start. With two successful students from AUC in its first year., the program was soon opened to other universities and increased numbers of students. Bonds with AUC have also served to reinforce and extend the historic connection between Egypt and UChicago. With your prestigious institution, we look forward to supporting The American University in Cairo and the Onsi Sawiris School of Business in its bright and impactful future."

“Our partnerships with leading American universities will create pathways for students of the Onsi Sawiris School of Business to develop a global mindset, a nuanced regional understanding and interdisciplinary skills essential to tackling the challenges of the future.”

This gift is made possible through the generosity of the NNS Foundation, the Naguib Sawiris Charitable Fund, Naguib Samih Sawiris, the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development and Orascom Construction. 

Nassef Sawiris, executive chair of OCI Global, reflected on his father’s belief in the importance of education for future generations. “Not only did my father believe in the value of education for his children, but he also recognized the benefits of providing similar opportunities to talented and deserving students across Egypt and the capacity for bolstering Egypt's economic competitors in so doing,” he said. “As a result, 25 years ago, my father established the Onsi Sawiris Scholarship Program, which was unprecedented at the time, to promote academic excellence and achievement.” 

“Seeing the potential within the AUC community –– the tenacity, curiosity, creativity and drive to succeed within the student body. Our family looks forward to continuing the support to AUC and its mission to be a global leader in education and excellence.”

The program has thus far provided full-tuition scholarships to 99 Egyptian students to pursue bachelor's or master's degree at prestigious U.S. universities, including the University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, Stanford and MIT. “The only stipulation my father made in return was that recipients returned to Egypt upon graduation to immediately begin reinvesting their talent and entrepreneurial skills to advance Egypt's economic standards for future generations,” said Nassef Sawiris.

So why is the Sawiris family creating new educational opportunities through the Onsi Sawiris School of Business at AUC? “Seeing the potential within the AUC community –– the tenacity, curiosity, creativity and drive to succeed within the student body,” said Nassef Sawiris. “Our family looks forward to continuing the support to AUC and its mission to be a global leader in education and excellence.”

“Today’s school naming honors the past and inspires the future."

Through scholarships, research, professorships and exchange programs, the Onsi Sawiris School of Business will continue on its path to driving educational excellence in Egypt, the region and worldwide. “Today’s school naming honors the past and inspires the future. It celebrates our shared vision to create a learning environment that fosters creativity, critical thinking and ethical leadership,” said Sherif Kamel ’88, ’90, ’13, dean of the Onsi Sawiris School of Business. “Here’s to the future, the endless possibilities that lie ahead and the enduring spirit of our beloved school of business.”

Photo caption: The Sawiris family, including Engineer Naguib Sawiris, Engineer Samih Sawiris and Mr. Nassef Sawiris; AUC President Ahmad Dallal; Board of Trustees Chair Mark Turnage; Dean Sherif Kamel; Dean of the College Melina Hale at the University of Chicago; Provost Ehab Abdel-Rahmen as well as senior AUC leadership, ministers, ambassadors and other notable figures at the Onsi Sawiris School of Business celebration

This remarkable accomplishment not only showcases the team’s ability to apply their academic knowledge in real-world scenarios but also provides them with a golden opportunity to the six months P&G winter internship.

United and Strong: The Perfect Team

The winning team was a dynamic group of four seniors: Joice Bebawy, Zeina Bahgat and Hanya Hafez, seniors in marketing, plus Nour Helal, senior in quantitative economics. Together they combined their strategic thinking and innovative marketing skills to solve the challenging business case of how to increase the market share of Pampers Pants in Egypt.

Reflecting on the team’s chemistry, Bahgat shared, “when I was put in a team with other AUCians, I was thankful, because I knew it would make it easier to communicate, meet on campus, and we probably held a similar mindset. We all had our strengths and complemented each other. One member calming the team down, another ensuring the structure was very smooth, someone else coming up with creative ideas; a perfect team.”

The success of the team lay in their ability to harness their individual strengths while working collaboratively, offering practical and innovative solutions to the case challenge.

Treasured Adventure: The Journey to Victory

The teams’ journey began in early November when all participants were introduced to P&G’s history, the internship program, and a case study debriefing. Teams were then randomly grouped together. 

Guided by Ahmed Tolba, professor and chair, and Hakim Meshreki, associate professor, Heikal Management Department, the team worked tirelessly to prepare for the competition. Their efforts culminated in a 20-minute presentation to a panel of P&G directors. Due to the strength of the competition, they were asked to re-present their case to a second panel, followed by a rigorous one-hour Q&A session focusing on the feasibility of their ideas. After waiting for one and a half tense hours, the team was declared the winner of the competition. 

Hafez reflected on the intensity of the experience, “We literally camped on campus for like three or four days working for a minimum of seven hours each day in order to crack the case study and develop the presentation. Full on working, having meetings, calling people to gather information. I had a pause in my academic life in terms of my courses that I’m currently taking, we had to give it 100%. It was draining, but I learned so much.”

Bebawy echoed the sentiment, “It was a transformative experience for me. I felt like I was working on something really big and was able to apply what I learned in class. I learned how to market size, how to think outside the box, backing up solutions with numbers plus how market insight and consumer insight is everything.”

As a result of their victory, all four team members have advanced to the interview stage for P&G’s six months Winter Internship, which begins in late January. The internships program positions in various business areas, allowing students to gain hands-on experience, make an early impact in the industry, and take their first steps into a meaningful career.

Helal, who is applying for P&G’s finance internship, expressed her excitement “It would be a huge milestone for me, especially as I know people who did the internship and told me it was such a fruitful experience, because they learned so much. They really expect a lot from their interns and put so much confidence in the ones they accept, making sure you learn quickly and stand up to those expectations.”

The internship opportunity highlights the value of the competition, bridging academic knowledge with practical industry experience, and providing students with unparalleled exposure to one of the world’s leading multinational companies.

Continuing Excellence: A Testament to AUC’s Commitment

The achievement is a testament to the team’s dedication, hard work and strategic thinking. It also reflects on the school’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence, both inside and outside the classroom. By empowering students to excel on global platforms, the school continues to prepare its graduates to compete and succeed in the professional world.

The P&G Winter Summit Internship Competition not only demonstrated the strength of Onsi Sawiris School of Business education, but also highlighted the school’s ability to produce graduates ready to tackle real-world challenges and drive meaningful impact in their industries.

The school has also retained the prestigious five Palmes of Excellence, placing it among the top 100 business schools worldwide, recognized for its strong global influence.

This ranking highlights the school’s commitment to providing world-class education, fostering innovation, and preparing future leaders to address global challenges and make meaningful contributions to society. 

Eduniversal evaluates the top 1,000 business schools across 153 countries in nine geographical zones, assessing academic reputation, global partnerships, international influence, and program quality. These rankings are further refined through the Deans’ Vote; a peer evaluation by 1,000 deans of business schools worldwide.  

“This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation in business education,” stated Sherif Kamel, Dean of Onsi Sawiris School of Business and a member of Eduniversal’s International Scientific Committee representing Africa. “It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni, who continuously strive to create impact and drive positive change. We are committed to enhancing our programs, expanding our global partnerships, and preparing future leaders to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving world.”

This achievement comes during a pivotal year for the Onsi Sawiris School of Business, following its naming after a transformative gift from the Sawiris family. The School continues to uphold its position as a triple-crown-accredited institution, placing it among the top 1% of business schools globally.

The school’s programs continue to excel on a regional and global scale. The graduate programs, including the Master of Arts in Economics and MBA Program—Elective in Operations Management, have ranked first in Africa in the Eduniversal Best Masters Rankings, while the MBA, Executive MBA, and Master of Science in Finance ranked second.

Maha Mourad, associate dean for undergraduate studies and administration, emphasized the importance of the school’s continued efforts in creating a transformative learning environment.

“Our programs are designed to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and ethical foundation to thrive in today’s global marketplace. This recognition from Eduniversal validates the tireless efforts of our faculty, staff, and students to ensure academic excellence and societal impact. It is a proud moment for our entire community.”

The Onsi Sawiris School of Business remains dedicated to advancing higher education, fostering innovation, and building a strong global network of partnerships. With this achievement, the School continues to strengthen its reputation as a global leader in business education, preparing future generations of leaders to innovate, inspire, and create meaningful impact.