IUSD I Welcome Guide Cairo

Cai ro

W ELCOMEGUI DE WI NTER TERM 201 3/ 1 4

Sponsors

Ain Shams University

Federal Ministry of Education

MSc Integrated Urbanism & Suistainable Design (IUSD)

MSc Integrated Urbanism & Suistainable Design (IUSD)

Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation

Ministry of Higher Education

“This publication would not have been possible without the effort of IUSD-ASU team, and the support of DAAD, BMZ, BMF, MOHESR, in cooperation with IUSD-STUTT team”

© 2012 IUSD Masters program, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without perimssion in writing from the publisher.

Second Edition, 2012

MSc Integrated Urbanism & Suistainable Design (IUSD)

Welcome Guidebook Table of contents

Introduction 4

Welcome Note 4 Introductory Weeks 5

Welcome to Ain Shams University 5

Timetable for the introductory weeks 6

Campus Introduction 7

Crash modules and Language courses 8

Excursions & Symposium 9 ASU Campus 10

University Overview 10

Faculty of Engineering campus 11

Faculty of engineering map 12

IUSD Zone 13 Campus Surrounding 14

Food Map 14

Services Map 15 Egypt 16

Living in Egypt 16

Cairo Historical Landmarks 18

Transportation 20

Safety and Health guidelines 22 Useful Contacts 25

Educational & Emergency 25

Embassies 26

Banks 27 References 28

MSc Integrated Urbanism & Suistainable Design (IUSD)

MSc Integrated Urbanism & Suistainable Design (IUSD)

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Introduction

Introductory Weeks

Welcome Note

Welcome to Ain Shams University

Welcome to MSc IUSD & Ain Shams University

MSc IUSD third semester – 2012 On the occasion of your arrival to Cairo to start your second year of the IUSD master Program, you will be attending roughly a two weeks introductory programme starting on the 1st of September 1st. Set to smooth your arrival, this programme aims to familiarize you with the culture and traditions in Cairo, help you settle in, and start off your academic year.

During the programme, German students will start Arabic courses tailored to their needs. At the same time, the whole group will be introduced to Ain Shams university and take part in several excursions inside and outside Cairo. Students will be visiting Fatimid Cairo, downtown Khedive’s Cairo along with Alexandria.

Throughout the introductory weeks, students will find assistance in their administrative affairs with the help of the IUSD Cairo staff. A welcome guide is also handed upon arrival to provide further useful information.

At the 29th of September the students will participate in the second version of the IUSD dialogues “on Resilience”.

Ahlan wa Sahlan!

Welcome to Ain Shams University in Cairo. As a Master student at ASU it is important that you prepare for your journey by learning about ASU, Cairo and Egypt. This welcome guide is a great place to begin! Designed to enhance your overseas educational experience, the welcome guide highlights all you need to know before you leave home, once you arrive in Cairo and after you settle in. Enjoy these pages..

Administrative affairs: Concerning the students’ administrative affairs, volunteers from the campus and students can help you with any necessary documents and help you in facilitating any pending issues. If any additional support is required, please contact the course coordinators.

Programme Coordinator: Dr. Yehya Serag +201004514896 Programme Coordinator assistant: Arch. Mona Mannoun +201001805685

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Introductory Weeks

Introductory Weeks

Timetable for the introductory weeks

Campus Introduction

An overview of the schedule for the introductory weeks is given as follows: September 1st to 15th

Pick up service (upon arrival) An Egyptian IUSD student or staff will pick you up at the airport to facilitate your commuting to your accommodation and introduce you to the surrounding area services and nearby transportation.

Sun

Mo

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

2 Logistics

3 01:00 pm Meeting at ASU (Welcome and Logistics)

4 10:00 am Discussion of informal areas and informality in Cairo

5 9:00 am Presentation on case study.

6 10:00 am Meeting at ASU (Administrative Issues– if needed)

7

8 Walking Tour Downtown Cairo

3:00 pm Campus orientation

1:00 pm 3:00 pm Meeting with DAAD representative (TBC)

11:00 am 4:00 pm Case study site visit

07:00 pm Arabic language classes Venue: IUSD Studio

07:00 pm Arabic language classes Venue: IUSD Studio

07:00 pm Arabic language classes Venue: IUSD Studio

07:00 pm Arabic language classes Venue: IUSD Studio

10 09:00 am 04:00 pm International Publishing – (crash course) Organized by DAAD -Kairo Akademie Venue : IUSD studio

11 Walking tourFatimid Cairo

12 Case Study visit

13 Alex Trip (details TBA)

9 Self-Study

07:00 pm Arabic language classes Venue: IUSD Studio

14

15

Welcome event (September 3, 2012- 1 pm) A welcome note by the dean followed by an introductory meeting for all the IUSD students, coordinators and academic staff in Ain Shams University will be held followed by short reception.

Campus Orientation (September 3, 2012- 3 pm) Since the IUSD program is hosted in the Faculty of Engineering, the students will be taken in a guided tour through its campus, showing the most important facilities and whereabouts that are relevant to the program. An IUSD staff or faculty alumni will take the students on the tour. Meeting point: IUSD studio– Architecture building- at 10 am.

The tour includes: Architecture Building: IUSD studio and lecture hall (Ground floor)

IUSD office (First floor)

Urban design and planning department (3rd floor)

Department library (1st floor) Faculty library Administrative building Cafeteria Copy Center Mosque

07:00 pm Arabic language classes Venue: IUSD Studio

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07:00 pm Arabic language classes Venue: IUSD Studio

07:00 pm Arabic language classes Venue: IUSD Studio

07:00 pm Arabic language classes Venue: IUSD Studio

As well as a general walking tour through the faculty campus.

MSc Integrated Urbanism & Suistainable Design (IUSD)

MSc Integrated Urbanism & Suistainable Design (IUSD)

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Introductory Weeks

Introductory Weeks

Crash modules and Language courses

Excursions & Symposium

Crash Modules With a generous support from the DAAD, the introductory weeks include one-day module of Kairo Akademie, aiming to further develop some international required skills of the IUSD future graduates. Students are requested to register for the free course on due time.

Excursions: Excursions are scheduled to include two urban Safaris within Cairo, with the help of a professional tour guide, to what are considered essential parts of Cairo. Students will be visiting Fatimid Cairo, downtown Khedive’s Cairo, as those areas are chosen to introduce different urban fabrics and architecture in relation to the contextual settings of the local community.

These courses are: - International Publishing (September 10th, 2o12), in which they will learn how to write cover letters, research highlights and will be introduced to Manuscript Online Submission Techniques that will help them in choosing suitable journals to present amongst other skills .

Info sheets on the courses will be sent electronically.

Along the semester there will be another one-day module supported that helps to develop international skills as well.

Language Courses: Upon the German students’ request, an intensive Arabic course has been scheduled for 14 days throughout the first introductory weeks. It will take place at the IUSD studio at Ain shams University. There will be a placement test to assign you to the proper language level .

Course Instructor: Mr. Mohamed Mahmoud Phone: +201281187179 venue: IUSD studio and site visits (TBA) Email: mohaned_mahmoud@hotmail.com

A full day trip to Alexandria is also scheduled showing the special essence of Egypt’s former Mediterranean Capital, where several civilizations once flourished. The main idea of setting these excursions is to introduce the diverse Egyptian contexts and civilizations to the IUSD students, and to provide a better understanding of the different variations within the urban and architectural domains in the country, which the students will be subject to for the rest of the semester.

Time Table for Excursions: Downtown Cairo: September 8, 2012 Fatimid Cairo: September 11, 2012 Alexandria: September 13, 2012 Advisory Board meeting: The students (or their representatives) will present their previous year work to the program’s advisory board on (September 29, 2012) in DAAD Premises (Kino), Zamalek.

Symposium: Students will be attending and presenting in the Integrated Urbanism Dialogues II “On Resilience”. For the first two days (September 30, 2012 and October 1, 2012) the students will attend the symposium in Main Conference Hall of Ain Shams, University, at the Faculty of Pharmacy.

On the third day (October 2,2012) students are responsible for executing a workshop dealing with this academic year’s IUSD case study. Invited guests, speakers and academic staff will attend this workshop to nourish them with their feedback and suggestions.

A short visit to the case study site in the morning will be followed by the workshop (details TBA)

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ASU Campus

ASU Campus

University overview

Faculty of Engineering campus

Information on the University

Ain Shams University

Faculty of Engineering

Ain Shams University is the third oldest university in Egypt, was founded in July 1950 under the name of “Ibrahim Pasha University”.

On February 21, 1954 the name of the university was changed to “Heliopolis”, and then changed in the same year to its present name “Ain Shams”; for “Heliopolis”, or “Oun”, which was the oldest university in history. “Oun” University was established about 5000 years ago, and it had a wide fame as a center of knowledge and learning, especially in astronomy, engineering and medicine.

The University includes 15 faculties and two high institutes.

Faculties : Agriculture, Arts, Commerce,Computer and Information sciences, Education,Engineering, Dentistry, Languages (Al Alsun), Law, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Science, College.

Ain Shams University Map

The Faculty of Engineering campus is located in Abdou Pasha sq., El Sarayat Street, a 15 minutes walk from the main campus of the university in Abassiya sq.

How to Get to Campus Unless you have family or friends in Cairo that can drive you, you can reach the faculty by a taxi from any part of the city; or by the metro line 3. (Station Abdou Pasha) Campus Safety All entrances to the university campuses are monitored and secured, with access controlled via ID checks. An ASU identification card is required to enter the campus.

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Copy Center

11 Mosque

10

5

6

4

3 1

Faculty of Engineering Map

New Halls

6 Hall (A) & (B) Library

2

3 Architectural Building IUSD Studio

1

4

Hall (C) & (D)

5 Play Ground

6 Abdo Basha Square

1

Cafe & Restaurant

l el E

11

7

9 4

Sab

dF e Ahm

8

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3

ze Kha

8

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Entrances

5 4

10

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2

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2

1

st

Mo

# fa ash

i

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Workshops building

IUSD Zone

9

Faculty of engineering map

Administration

ASU Campus

7

ASU Campus

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1

IUSD OfďŹ ce / Secretary

3

Lecture Room

5

IUSD Studio

2

Staff Room

4

Seminar/V.C. Room

6

Kitchenette/ Storage

IUSD Zone

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$

ATM

PO

Taiba Hospital

Post Office

Tarek

$

Zahraa Hospital

Greek Hospital

Italian Hospital

HSBC Bank

Copy Centers

ATM

Faculty of Engineering

Stationary Axis

Copy Centers

Faculty of Engineering

Campus Surrounding

Food Map Services Map

Services Map

National Bank of Egypt

Food Map

KFC Pizza Hut

Malki

Nagaf

Mo’men Pizza King

Campus Surrounding

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Egypt

Egypt

living in egypt

living in egypt

About Egypt Venturing to Egypt is an exciting enterprise. The adjustment and learning opportunities inherent there in are a major undertaking. Reading as much as you can before arrival about Egypt and its peoples will help you ease what is a transformative, and at times uncomfortable experience.

Religion A powerful influence in Egyptian life is religion. Whether Muslim or Christian, all Egyptians, even those who do not practice except on major religious occasions such as festivals, weddings and funerals, take religion seriously.

Major cities like Cairo and Alexandria are a blend of many peoples and cultures resulting from successive invasions and migrations since Pharaonic times. Greeks, Romans, Armenians, Gulf Arabs and Italians among others came from outside Egypt, while within Egypt the migration of rural Egyptians to the cities continued. Some groups formed their own minority communities and others mixed more readily with the local population.

Cultural & Climate Information / Advice The choice to live and study abroad is a major undertaking in cross-cultural living and learning. It will not be easy and the process will progress over a number of months. The payoff, if successful, is immense. You will learn about yourself, your home culture as you learn about Egyptians and their culture.

Local customs There are conservative standards of dress and behavior in Egypt, particularly for women.

You should dress modestly with your legs and upper arms covered. You should take care not to offend others with the way you dress. If in doubt, seek local advice from your Egyptian IUSD colleagues..

Exchange Rates You can always check the website of the Central Bank of Egypt www.cbe.org.eg. Only Egyptian currency may be used within Egypt except in certain officially mandated circumstances such as payment for most hotel rooms, where dollars (or euros) are required (by cash or credit card). The only legal way to obtain Egyptian currency is by exchange of hard currency at a local bank authorized to deal in Egyptian pounds or other approved office currency exchange.

Electrical Current and Equipment The current in Egypt ranges between 220 and 240 volts (but can drop well below 200) alternating at 50 cycles per second. Transformers are available in Cairo in sizes ranging from 50 to 5,000 watts, although the larger transformers are very expensive. For small appliances, voltage converters may be used. Converters will not work on appliances rated at more than 1600 watts Cell/Mobile Phones International students often want to know if they can use their home country cell phones in Egypt. The answer is yes, if it is a tri-band cell phone. And, you have international roaming on your phone. In Egypt, the mobile (cell) phone and the service are not bundled. You can purchase a reasonably priced mobile phone at the many mobile shops around Cairo. If your current cell phone is unlocked, you can use that same phone, just change the sim card.

Valid mobile networks: Vodafone Mobinil Etisalat

Image

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Egypt Cairo Historical Landmarks

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Egypt

Egypt

Transportation

Transportation 1 2

New El-Marg El-Marg Ezbet El-Nakhl

Shubra

Public Transportation

Metro Line

Ain Shams El-Matereyaa Hlmiet El-Zaitoun Hadayeq El-Zaitoun

Koleyat El Zeraat El Mazallat

Traffic and Transportation Getting around Cairo can be difficult because of the crowded atmosphere. The dense population of the city is reflected in its crowded public transportation system. Transportation at rush hours can be all but impossible when Cairenes jam the buses and trains beyond all imagination. Because of the heavy traffic, we strongly advise against riding a bicycle (except perhaps in Maadi).

Metro Cairo has an excellent subway system (Metro) that operates above ground in some areas and underground in others. The stations are clean, smoke-free, well lit, easy to navigate (the signs are in both Arabic and English) and the fares are cheap.

El Khalafawi Embaba

Saray El-Qobba Hammamat El-Qobba Kobri El-Qobba

St. Teresa Rod El Farag

Sudan

Massara Kil Kat Zamalek

Al Shohadaa

Manshiet El-Sadr El-Demerdash Ghamra

3

El Bohoos

Faysal Giza Omm El Misryeen

Sakiat Mekki

Just raise your hand or call out ‘taxi’ and they should stop, then name your destination.

Most taxi drivers speak little to no English. It is advisable that you ride the white cab with the meter and AC.

Kolleyet El Banat

Cairo Stadium Cairo Fairgrounds Abbasiya

Orabi Attaba El Geish Nasser Emad Eldin Bab El Sha;arya Gezira 3 (Opera) Sadat

Dokki Cairo University

Taxis Probably the most common means of transportation in the city, There are two types of Taxis. The white taxis are usually air-conditioned, modern and tariff metered, are the ones recommended. The other type is the traditional black and white taxi, that you should negotiate the fair price before you get in, and you should have and idea of the fair price before hand.

Al Ahram

Abdo Pasha

Boulaq Mohandiseen

Airport

El Monib

2

M.Naguib Saad Zaghloul Sayyeda Zeinab El-Malek El-Saleh Mar Girgis El-Zahraa Dar El-Salam Hadayeq El-Maadi Maadi Skanat El-Maadi Tora El-Balad Kozzika Tora El-Asmant El-Maasara Hadayeq Helwan

Line 1

Wadi Hof

Line 2

Helwan University

Line 3

Ain Helwan

Under Construction

Helwan

1

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Egypt

Egypt

Safety and health guidelines

Safety and health guidelines

Personal obligations Upon arrival in Egypt, it is essential that each student needs to register themselves at their embassy located in Cairo (a list of embassies are placed at the end of this guide). All embassies require your personal attendance when registering. The earlier you register the easier the embassy can contact you. Keep your passport with you when registering!

Evacuation Condition The only wide evacuation condition that took place was in early February 2011 during the curfew that happened after the Egyptian revolution of January 25th, 2011, since then no departing plans for foreigners occurred in Egypt.

Note that some countries have registration online services through their official websites for frequent travellers for further contact incase of forced departure from the country of arrival. So, initial registering could be done before travelling but this is not concerned a full registration.

Personal Security Demonstrations could occur at any time, particularly after Friday prayers. If you are inadvertently caught up in a protest you should either leave the area immediately, if it is safe to do so, or stay indoors.

Tahrir Square and its immediate surrounds have become the focus of protest activity in Cairo. This includes the nearby TV Building on Corniche El-Nil between the 6 October and 15 May bridges in the Maspero area. You should avoid these locations if demonstrations starts.

Crime Valuables such as cash, jewellery and electronic items should not be left unsecured in hotel rooms or unattended in public places. Victims of crime should report the incident to the tourist police immediately. Failure to do so before you depart Egypt may make it impossible to seek prosecution at a later date. The police contact number is 122.

Although the streets of Cairo are among the safest of any large city, verbal and physical harassment occurs occasionaly. Random violent crime is rare except for the occasional pickpocket or purse snatchers who will take your money and/or passport. Like any big city, some neighbourhoods in Cairo remain safer than others.

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In case an upcoming call for departing Egypt takes place while you are staying in Egypt.

These measures are to be followed: 1. Contact your embassy in Cairo and follow their instructions, therefore you need to be registered upon arrival, so they could contact you when something occurs and could easily count you in any proposed movement to a safe place or a proposed departure. In this situation, embassies normally announce to their citizens to move to safer places recognized by the embassy such as particular hotels, embassy owned buildings ‌etc.

Few embassies had assisted their citizens to depart free of charge from Egypt during the last evacuation event but this is not generally done by all embassies!.

2. Contact the DAAD in Cairo and be aware of their instructions, they could be similar to those of your embassy; to move to a safer place which could also be managed by the DAAD. 3. Be aware of the national instructions made by the Egyptian official press to know better about the whole situation and the areas of high risk that you need to avoid.

Healthy Food Upon arrival to Cairo, be moderately careful about the food. Fresh vegetables and fruit are plentiful in Cairo. You will notice a richness in flavor and taste that is uncommon in many western countries. Make sure to wash with plenty of running water.

Most restaurants serve vegetarian dishes which are relatively cheaper. Healthy food stores are not common but a few can be found. Until your body adjusts, it is recommended that you shop for food at one of the main supermarket outlets such as Seoudi, Metro Market, Alfa Market and many others where cleaned and packaged fresh fruits and vegetables can be obtained.

Tap walk is pottable in most formal areas in Cairo. yet it is advisable to use bottled mineral water. Although most brands on the market are alright, we recommend Nestle, Aquafina, Siwa.

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Egypt

Useful Contacts

Safety and health guidelines

Educational & Emergency

Laws Being a Guest in Egypt

Ain Shams University http://net.shams.edu.eg/

Always remember that you, as well as every other international student, faculty and staff member, are a guest in Egypt. You are subject to all local laws. Propriety requires good sense, good judgment and respect.

When you are in Egypt, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by other standards, do apply to you.

Possession of even small quantities of illicit drugs in Egypt can lead to the death penalty, long prison sentences or deportation.

Under Muslim custom, homosexuality and sexual relations outside of marriage are considered immoral. Penalties for immorality include imprisonment. Also refrain for drinking alcohol or beer in public space.

Taking photographs of bridges and canals (including the Suez Canal), military personnel, buildings and equipment is illegal.

Living in Rented Flats Mixed gender living accommodations are frowned upon. Although there are some that will, many landlords are not interested in renting to tenants with a mixed gender make up.

Loud boisterous parties where alcohol is served are also strongly frowned upon.

One-bedroom flats are in very short supply. Most flats are 2-3 bedrooms.

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Faculty of Engineering http://eng.asu.edu.eg/ 1 Sarayat Street Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt Tel: +20-2683-0963 Fax: +20-2685-9251 Email: vpce@asunet.shams.edu.eg DAAD Cairo http://www.daad.de/ http://cairo.daad.de./en/ Tel: +20-27356039 Egypt Phonebook Phone: 140 Website: http://www.140online.com/En Other important public emergency numbers that can be dialed allover Egypt: Ambulance Service

123

Civil Defense and Fire Fighting

180

Police

122

Emergency on all roads

012.111.0000

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Useful Contacts

Useful Contacts

Embassies

Banks

German Embassy in Cairo, Egypt 1 Berlin Street Zamalek, Cairo, Egypt

NSGB Bank Hotline: 19700 Website: http://www.nsgb.com.eg/Pages/default.aspx

Phone: +20-2-2728-2000 Fax: +20-2-2728-2159

CIB Bank

Web site: http://www.kairo.diplo.de/

Hotline: 19666 Website: http://www.cibeg.com/en/Pages/default.aspx

Jordanian Embassy in Cairo, Egypt 6 Basem El Kateb St., Off El Tahrir St. Dokki-Giza, Cairo, Egypt

CitiBank

Phone: +20-2-3749-5660 +20-2-3761-0145

Hotline: 16644 Website: http://www.citibankegypt.com/egypt/homepage/home.htm

Fax: +20-2-3749-5660

HSBC Bank

Email: jocairo2@ie-eg.com

Hotline: 19007 Website: http://www.hsbc.com.eg/1/2/

Syrian Embassy in Cairo, Egypt 24, Kamel Shenawy Street Garden City, Cairo, Egypt Phone: +20-2-2792-4325 Fax: +20-2-2792-4326 Email: info@syrianembassyeg.com Tunisian Embassy in Cairo, Egypt 26, El Gizera Street Zamalek, Cairo, Egypt Phone: +20-2-2736-8962 +20-2-2735-4940 Fax: +20-2-2736-2479 Email: tunisiacairo@link.net

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References

References http://www.shams.edu.eg http://www.aucegypt.edu http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Egypt#Local_Travel Picture References Google earth Mannoun, M. 2010 Salheen, M. 2012 http://www.shams.edu.eg http://myweb.unomaha.edu/~jromaire/geog3000/maps.htm

Credits Contributed and supervised by : Dr. Mohamed Salheen Special thanks to:

Dr. Mohamed Asar

Edited by: Dr. Yehya Serag Production and Design: IUSD TEAM Arch. Elaf Raslan Arch. Mennatuallah Hendawy Arch. Mustafa Mamdouh

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