The activities of the international COSIMENA DAAD 2025 Winter School, held under the theme “(Re)Cognizing an Omitted Legacy: Digital Documentation of Industrial Heritage in Alexandria,” concluded in Alexandria with a closing ceremony that included student presentations and distribution of certificates to participants. The Winter School followed an intensive academic and practical program conducted from 26 November to 7 December 2025.

 The Winter School was organized under the COSIMENA Project, affiliated with the Regional Office of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in Cairo, and featured distinguished academic participation from several international partner universities. These included Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus–Senftenberg (BTU), Bauhaus-Universität Weimar (BUW), the University of Sharjah (UoS), and the Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST).

The University of Sharjah made a substantial and compelling contribution to the Winter School. A group of graduate students from the Master’s Program “ Conservation Management of Cultural Heritage “ at the Department of Architectural Engineering actively participated in the academic activities and hands-on workshops. In addition, Dr. Monther Jamhawi, Coordinator of the PhD Program in Science and Technology for Heritage Conservation, and Dr. Eslam Nofal, Coordinator of the Master’s Program in Conservation Management of Cultural Heritage, delivered specialized lectures and contributed their academic expertise to enriching scholarly discussions, fostering knowledge exchange among participating institutions, and strengthening the University’s presence in international events dedicated to heritage and digital documentation.

The Winter School focused on tools and methodologies for the digital documentation of industrial heritage, including digital surveying, 3D modeling, and photogrammetry, as well as field-based applications at selected industrial heritage sites in Alexandria. This approach provided students with an integrated educational experience that combined theoretical research with practical application.

This active participation underscores the University of Sharjah’s commitment to enhancing international engagement for its students and faculty, supporting research and education in heritage studies and digital transformation, and promoting cross-border academic collaboration in line with its strategic vision and academic mission.