President of Palestine Ahliya University Joins Fifth Arab-Russian University Presidents Forum in Cairo
Prof. Imad Al-Zeer, President of Palestine Ahliya University and a member of the Executive Council of the Association of Arab Universities, participated in the Fifth Forum of Arab and Russian University Presidents. The forum was hosted by the Capital University (formerly Helwan University) in the Arab Republic of Egypt, with extensive participation from university presidents and academic leaders from both the Arab and Russian sides, under the patronage of the Egyptian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Mohamed Ayman Ashour.
During the opening session, Prof. Amr Salama, Secretary-General of the Association of Arab Universities, emphasized the significance of the forum as a bridge for scientific communication between higher education institutions in the Arab world and Russia. He noted that previous sessions had resulted in joint research programs and projects that contributed to the enhancement of collaboration between the two sides.
Prof. Al-Zeer’s participation represented a significant addition to the forum, which serves as an important international platform for advancing academic and research collaboration. During the event, he discussed with several Arab and Russian university presidents the potential for developing joint programs, expanding partnerships in advanced technology, scientific research, and innovation, as well as enhancing academic and student exchange initiatives.
During his dialogue session, Prof. Al-Zeer launched an initiative aimed at developing the Arab higher education system in light of the rapid advancements in AI. The initiative focused on several key tracks, including: the infrastructure and digital sovereignty track, emphasizing the shift from platform consumption to owning knowledge-based decision-making; the academic life reengineering track, moving from rigid curricula to adaptive systems; the human capital track, highlighting the importance of educators and researchers as leaders of transformation; the governance and ethics track; and the strategic partnerships track, leveraging knowledge as a soft power to build a shared future.
Concurrently with the forum, the Executive Council of the Association of Arab Universities convened with the participation of Prof. Imad Al-Zeer. The meeting addressed several agendas related to enhancing the operations of the association and strengthening its role in supporting collaborative initiatives among Arab universities, particularly in the fields of digitalization, quality assurance, and scientific research.
On the sidelines of the conference, Prof. Al-Zeer signed several cooperation agreements with several Russian and Chechen universities, aimed at strengthening collaboration in academic, administrative, research, and student-related areas.
Prof. Al-Zeer also emphasized that Palestine Ahliya University prioritizes international engagement and multilateral cooperation, noting that the initiatives will expand opportunities for Palestinian universities to benefit from Russian and Arab expertise and strengthen joint scientific research.
This year’s forum, titled “Bridges of Knowledge Civilizations: Education, Innovation, and Sustainable Future,” focused on education and digital transformation, innovation and research, and sustainability. The forum brought together representatives from over fifty Arab and Russian universities to discuss higher education, research, and innovation priorities, thereby strengthening ongoing collaborative efforts between the two sides.
