Call for Institutional Best Practices

The Technical Committee of the 5^th MENA Higher Education Leadership Forum invites leaders of and experts from the Higher Education Sector to submit original institutional case studies of relevance to this year’s theme.

Submitted case studies shall demonstrate a clear alignment with the main theme and sub-themes of the Forum and shall provide lessons learnt that other institutions of learning can adapt for their own institutions.

Submissions of case studies shall be made against one of the following four streams. Authors are kindly required to specify the stream against which they are submitting their case study when their extended abstract is sent:

Stream 1| Re-inventing HE: New Pedagogies and Practices for Teaching, Learning and Assessment

The focus of this stream is on presenting case studies where higher education institutions have developed and implemented successful institutional wide innovative pedagogical strategies and innovations to transition from emergency remote teaching to meaningful online learning experience that will continue beyond the pandemic. This involves but is not limited to adopting pedagogical approaches that promote learning such as experiential learning, competency based learning, self-learning and deep learning; re-thinking student assessment; digitization of course content, developing personalized and integrated virtual learning environments that may rely on the use of data analytics, integrating education technologies such as the use of   gamifications, virtual and augmented reality and augmented reality, simulations, etc.

Stream 2|Re-inventing HE: Digitalization and the Future of Universities

The Digitalization phenomenon that has affected our daily lives has multiple challenges and opportunities for universities shaping their future in the digital age. COVID-19 has acted as a catalyst to speed institutions’ efforts towards digitization not only in teaching and learning but across all functions of the university including in student support, administrative functions, etc. In this stream authors are welcomed to submit case studies that address how their respective institutions have been addressing digital transformation within their eco-system from a system perspective including aspects related to strategies, policies, process and product innovation based on new digital technologies,  re-defining knowledge in the digital ages, shaping organizational culture, managing digital innovation, developing platform to support the university eco-system, etc.

Stream 3| Re-inventing HE: Internationalization and Research

Internationalization and university research have been facing unprecedented challenges as the globe continues to be confronted with COVID-19 pandemic. The economical recession caused by the pandemic, the cancellation of travelling and face to face scientific events and the impossibility to access research facilities has put a strain on non-COVID-19 related research. Similarly, internationalization which was heavily linked to physical mobility of students and scholars have been significantly impacted. However, while this crisis has generated a lot of challenges, it has also created opportunities for institutions to innovate and to come up with new models for engaging in research and internationalization. The pandemic may have transformed the way universities engage in both research and internationalization. This stream invites institutions to share their short plans, strategies and actions aimed at improving research and internationalization within the higher education institution post COVID-19.

Stream 4| Re-inventing HE: New Relationships between HE and Society in a Global Perspective

Universities are being forced to carefully reconsider their role in society and to evaluate the relationships with their various constituencies, stakeholders, and communities. They are increasingly expected to assume a third mission and to engage in interactions with local as well as international partners. COVID-19 has been an unpresented time where universities had to show their commitment towards education being a common good for society. Higher education institutions who have developed solid strategies and programs to demonstrate their aspiration of education by taking on social responsibilities during these difficult times are invited to share their case studies with our international audience.

Stream 5| Re-inventing HE: Micro-credentials and Digital Badges in Higher Education

The micro-credentialing movement is gaining momentum globally as more governments, universities and professional organizations are attempting to respond to the need to skill, upskill and re-skill the future workforce due to the powerful change forces of Industry 4.0 along with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Micro-credentials are believed to become the next new normal and universities may play a significant role in supporting with the re-skilling of the workforce. Institutions and organizations with good practices in the adoption of micro-credentials are invited to share their cases studies. Case studies may cover a wide range of areas that may including institutional and/ or national contexts (i.e. credentialing process, recognition framework,  quality assurance, etc.)