Pre-Forum Workshops 14^th April, 2026

15^th April, 2026

16^th April, 2026

Morning Pre-Forum Workshops

08:30-09:00

Morning Pre-Forum Workshops’ Registration

09:00-10:30

Workshop 1:

Institutionalizing technology transfer at universities.

Facilitator:
Dr. Georgeta Auktor, Head of Strategy and Development & University Development & Management Lead, TUM International (TUMint), Germany


Co-organized with:

Workshop 2:

Driving Impact and Excellence: Strategic Approaches to University Rankings and Global Visibility

Facilitators:
Dr Ashwin Fernandes, Executive Director, QS Quacquarelli Symonds

Dr Habib Fardoun, Principal Consultant, QS Quacquarelli Symonds

Co-organized with:

10:30-10:45

Coffee Break and Networking

10:45-12:30

Workshop 1 Continuation:

Institutionalizing technology transfer at universities.

Facilitator:
Dr. Georgeta Auktor, Head of Strategy and Development & University Development & Management Lead, TUM International (TUMint), Germany


Co-organized with:

Workshop 2 Continuation:

Driving Impact and Excellence: Strategic Approaches to University Rankings and Global Visibility

Facilitators:
Dr Ashwin Fernandes, Executive Director, QS Quacquarelli Symonds

Dr Habib Fardoun, Principal Consultant, QS Quacquarelli Symonds

Co-organized with:

Afternoon Pre-Forum Workshops

13:30-14:30

Afternoon Pre-Forum Workshops’ Registration

14:30–15:30

Workshop 3:

Futureproofing Graduates: Skills, Employability, and Industry Collaboration

Facilitator:
Madelein Meiring, Higher Education Academic Excellence Advisor, McGraw Hill

Co-organized with:

Workshop 4:

Leadership Framework for MENA Higher Education: Building adaptive leadership capacity to navigate global challenges while creating meaningful local impact

Facilitator:
Fiona Lennoxsmith, Head of Leadership, Governance & Management, Advance HE

Co-organized with:

15:30-15:45

Coffee Break

15:45–17:30

Workshop 3 Continuation:

Futureproofing Graduates: Skills, Employability, and Industry Collaboration

Facilitator:
Madelein Meiring, Higher Education Academic Excellence Advisor, McGraw Hill

Co-organized with:

Workshop 4 Continuation:

Leadership Framework for MENA Higher Education: Building adaptive leadership capacity to navigate global challenges while creating meaningful local impact

Facilitator:
Fiona Lennoxsmith, Head of Leadership, Governance & Management, Advance HE

Co-organized with:

15^th APRIL, 2026

08:00-09:00

Arrival and Registration

09:00–09:45

Forum Main Opening and Awards Ceremony

Morning Plenary Session

09:45-10:25

Keynote Address 1

10:30–11:30

Panel Discussion 1:

Bridging Boundaries: Building a Collaborative Ecosystem for Workforce Readiness and Social Impact

Moderator:
Prof. Yusra Mouzughi, Provost, University of Birmingham, UAE

Panelists:
- Prof. Bassam Alameddine, President, Gulf University for Science and Technology, Kuwait

- Dr. Karim Seghir, Chancellor, Ajman university, UAE

- Morwenna Crago, Sr. Director, Marketing, Product & Sales Enablement, Higher Education – McGraw Hill International

11:30-11:50

Coffee Break and Networking

11:50–12:30

Keynote Address 2

Prof. Francisco Marmolejo, Higher Education President, Qatar Foundation, Qatar

12:30-13:30

Panel Discussion 2:

Thriving in Disruption: Ethical Leadership and Digital Innovation in Higher Education

Moderator:
Prof. Ghassan Aouad, Chancellor, Abu Dhabi University, UAE

Panelists:
- Prof. Dr. Agron Bajraktari, Rector, University of Applied Sciences in Ferizaj (UASF), Kosovo

- Dr. Tod Laursen, Chancellor, American University of Sharjah (AUS), UAE

13:30-14:30

Lunch Break and Networking

Parallel Institutional Case Study Presentations

14:30-16:00

Track 1:

Embedding Sustainability and Societal Responsibility in Higher Education

View Details

Track 2:

Strengthening University-Industry-Government Partnerships for Workforce Readiness

View Details

Track 3:

Advancing Digital Transformation and AI-Driven Innovation

View Details

Track 4:

Fostering Global Engagement and Social Impact

View Details

Track 5:

Bridging Higher Education and Employability

View Details

Track 6:

Strengthening Leadership and Governance for Institutional Resilience

View Details

14:30–16:00

Track 1:

Embedding Sustainability and Societal Responsibility in Higher Education

Track 2:

Strengthening University-Industry-Government Partnerships for Workforce Readiness

Track 3:

Advancing Digital Transformation and AI- Driven Innovation

Track 4:

Fostering Global Engagement and Social Impact

Track 5:

Bridging Higher Education and Employability

Track 6:

Strengthening Leadership and Governance for Institutional Resilience

View Details

View Details

View Details

View Details

View Details

View Details

16:00-16:15

Coffee Break

16:15–17:30

Track 1: Cont.

Embedding Sustainability and Societal Responsibility in Higher Education

Track 2 Cont.

Strengthening University-Industry-Government Partnerships for Workforce Readiness

Track 3 Cont.

Advancing Digital Transformation and AI- Driven Innovation

Track 4 Cont.

Fostering Global Engagement and Social Impact

Track 5 Cont.

Bridging Higher Education and Employability

Track 6 Cont.

Strengthening Leadership and Governance for Institutional Resilience

Back To Top

16^th APRIL, 2026

08:00-09:00

Arrival and Networking

09:00–09:40

Keynote Address 3

09:40–10:10

Fireside Chat:

Shaping Resilient Futures: Rhetoric or Reality? Higher Education’s Real-World Impact

10:10-11:10

Debate:

Are Traditional Universities Becoming Obsolete in the Face of Digital Education and AI?

Moderator:
Nick Davis, President, Middle East & Africa, THE (Times Higher Education)

Speakers:
- Prof. Maurits van Rooijen, Chief Academic Officer, Global University Systems, UK

11:10-11:30

Coffee Break and Networking

12:30–13:10

Keynote Address 4

13:10–14:10

Lunch Break and Networking

Parallel Focus Groups (Requires Registration)

14:10–15:30

Focus Group (1)

Accelerating Research and Innovation: Strategies for Impact

Focus Group (2)

Industry-Academia Partnerships for Local Development

Focus Group (3)

Strengthening Higher Education Systems through Regional Collaboration

15:30-15:50

Coffee Break and Networking

15:50- 16:50

Panel Discussion 3:

Reinventing Governance: Agility, Innovation, and Institutional Resilience

Moderator:
Dr. Ashwin Fernandes, Executive Director - Africa, Middle East & South Asia, QS (Quacquarelli Symonds)

Panelists:
- Prof. Dr. Abdulrahman Alsughayir, President, AlMaarefa University, KSA

- Dr. Elizabeth Soliday-Naui, President, ISASS Dean, Swiss School of Management, Spain

- Dr. Julie Furst-Bowe, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Arkansas Tech University, USA

16:50-17:10

Closing Remarks, Key Insights and Future Directions

Group Photo & Farewell

Back To Top