CBU Celebrates Graduates and Honours Acclaimed Egyptian Author at Canadian International College Convocation in Cairo

Cape Breton University (CBU) celebrated the achievements of its students at the Canadian International College (CIC) in Cairo, Egypt, with a convocation ceremony on Thursday, September 25, 2025. The ceremony honoured the accomplishments of 185 graduates and featured the presentation of an honorary doctorate to Dr. Reem Bassiouney, a distinguished Egyptian author and professor.

“It is a privilege for Cape Breton University to honour Dr. Reem Bassiouney, whose remarkable contributions to literature and linguistics have inspired scholars around the world,” says President and Vice-Chancellor, David C. Dingwall. “Her work exemplifies the power of storytelling and scholarship to bridge cultures and spark dialogue, values we hold deeply at CBU. Recognizing Dr. Bassiouney at this convocation is not only a celebration of her achievements, but a reflection of our commitment to global academic excellence.”

Dr. Bassiouney is an internationally recognized novelist and a leading authority in Arabic sociolinguistics. She holds MPhil and PhD degrees from Oxford University and has taught at several prestigious institutions, including Cambridge and Georgetown University. Her acclaimed literary works, such as The Mamluk Trilogy, Dr. Hanaa and Al Halwani: The Fatimid Trilogy, have earned her numerous awards, including the prestigious Naguib Mahfouz Award for best Egyptian novel and the Sheikh Zayed Literature Award.

As a scholar, Dr. Bassiouney’s seminal works, including Arabic Sociolinguistics and Functions of Code-Switching in Egypt, have significantly contributed to the field. Her diverse academic and literary contributions align with CBU’s mission to foster global citizenship and enrich programs in linguistics, literature and cultural studies.

Cape Breton University is incredibly proud of the achievements of its graduates and is honoured to recognize Dr. Bassiouney’s remarkable career. Her work exemplifies the global academic excellence CBU strives to cultivate and serves as an inspiration to students and faculty alike.

This year’s convocation marks a major achievement for Canadian International College graduates and also reinforces the long-standing and successful collaboration between Cape Breton University and the CIC. For more than 20 years, this partnership has been a cornerstone of CBU’s global education strategy, providing students in Egypt with a high-quality Canadian academic experience and preparing them to become leaders in their fields. The joint initiative has fostered a unique environment for cross-cultural exchange and academic excellence, strengthening the bonds between our two institutions.

The convocation ceremony was attended by a delegation from CBU, including President Dingwall, and the Canadian Ambassador to Egypt, Ulric Shannon.