The Higher Education Leadership Forum is one of the very few networks established in the MENA region to address higher education academic leaders. The forum through its various meetings aims at providing a regional platform to discuss latest trends, developments and issues pertinent to the field; share experiences and identify future directions for higher education. Furthermore, and given, institutions of learning operate today within a global world, the forum will also invite international experts from other parts of the world to share their experiences and lessons learnt.
Every year, the forum will be planned around a theme which is of relevance to the latest global and regional trends in higher education, this year’s Inaugural Forum is organized under the theme “Becoming a “World-Class University” in a Modern Context: Challenges Opportunities and Strategies Forward”. The theme was selected based on the growing attention universities has been giving to achieve what is called a ‘world-class’ status that enables them to compete in today’s global market and enhance their public image while remaining competitive. Whether universities attempt to achieve this status by designing and implementing internal practices to continuously improve quality, or whether they chose to conduct benchmarks against selected top universities, or apply for national, regional or international accreditation or aim at being ranked by one of the national or international ranking systems. They all place considerable efforts to achieve this ultimate goal, which provides challenges yet offers plenty of opportunities for those institutions that can reach it.
The forum addresses through its various activities different concepts linked to theme including the importance of good governance and leadership to attain excellence, the integration of a quality culture which enables institutions to compete, the pivotal role technology plays in shaping today’s education, addressing the changing nature of learners and becoming learner centric institutions, research and scholarly work and partnerships and cooperation as important elements of attaining a “world- class” status.