Conference addresses global challenges and opportunities facing educational institutions in the MENA region.
Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of United Arab Emirates the Abu Dhabi Education Council and Khalifa University opened the first day of the 4th QS Middle East and North Africa Professional Leaders in Education (QS MAPLE) conference at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Abu Dhabi.
The conference opened with an exhibition of higher education institutes and academic providers from around the region as well as a welcome address by Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi Director General Abu Dhabi Education Council and a plenary session delivered by Professor M. Badr Aboul-Ela Director for the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) and Vice President of the Arab Network for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ANQAHE).
The conference will run until May 8th and has attracted more than 300 delegates from around the world to discuss the theme of “global challenges and opportunities in higher education.” QS-MAPLE offers the ideal platform for actively engaged university leaders as well as mid-level academics to participate in constructive debates on the internationalization of students faculty and the curriculum.
Professor Badr Aboul-Ela Director The Commission for Academic Accreditation at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research said: “I am pleased to see such rich program for this conference and the wide participation from institutions of higher education in the region and internationally. I am sure that the outcome of this conference and the rich discussion and debates would bring together new ideas for collaboration among institutions which will help them in the challenges we all face in our efforts to ensure the delivery of quality higher education programs to be recognized both within the country and internationally for their excellence.”
“We are pleased to be part of this exciting event ” said Khalifa University President Dr. Tod Laursen. “This conference offers those of us in higher education a wonderful opportunity to meet share and explore ideas with one another. It is my hope that this conference will help strengthen the bonds between our academic communities and to expand relevant partnerships collaboration and best practices in higher education leadership.Khalifa University is especially pleased to be involved in the organization of this event as we believe it fits strongly with our mission of offering a high quality of education to our students. This conference will allow visitors to experience the tremendous diversity breadth and depth of ideas and best practices available in higher education at Khalifa University and in the UAE as a whole.”
It is worth noting that 4th QS-MAPLE unravels QS’s newest regional rankings system devised for the Arab world—QS University Rankings: Arab World. Participants at the conference will have the opportunity to attend the rankings session and determine the weight of criteria that will form the rankings together with experts from the QS Intelligence Unit.
