Towards a New Generation of Engaged Universities:
The Need to Act, Adapt and Transform

16th – 18thApril, 2024 | Kempinski Central Avenue (Formerly the Address Dubai Mall), Dubai, UAE

Welcoming Message

Welcome Message from the Forum Chair

Dear Colleagues,
Warm Greetings,
On behalf of the Technical and Organizing Committees of the MENA Higher Education Leadership (MENA-HELF) I would like to extend a warm invitation to you to join us in Dubai, UAE for the 6th  edition of this high level gathering of international higher education leaders and decision makers. This Biennial Forum, themed “Towards a New Generation of Engaged Universities: The Need to Act, Adapt and Transform,” is scheduled to take place from April 16th to 18th, 2024, at the Address Dubai Mall Hotel in Dubai, UAE. We encourage higher education leaders and experts from around the world to submit institutional case studies relevant to the forum’s main theme and sub-themes for presentation during the event. Please download the Call for Institutional Case Studies by clicking Here.


Moreover, we extend a special invitation to university leaders to actively engage in one of the three high-level roundtable discussions. Your participation and engagement with these roundtable will contribute to shaping the roadmap and a comprehensive report that will be formulated following the forum objectives.

For those who haven’t joined us in the past, the MENA-HELF has evolved over the years to become one of the region’s dynamic platforms, attracting Higher Education Leaders and Decision Makers from over 50 countries. We’re delighted to see the forum grow larger and more significantly with each edition.

The program of the 3-day event is meticulously being crafted to provide ample opportunities for participants to engage and share their insights and views. It will feature plenary with keynote addresses, fireside chats, panel discussions allowing for in-depth exploration of the evolving trends shaping the future of higher education, round tables, pre-conference workshops, and case study presentations, among other activities. Through this dynamic format, we aim to collectively explore how universities can innovate, adapt, and transform to sustain meaningful engagement at all levels. We will share knowledge, articulate strategic roadmaps, highlight best practices, and celebrate success stories.

For further information about the forum, please visit: www.menahelf.com. Kindly note that we are continuously updating the website, so please check it regularly.

The Forum will also witness the announcement of the winners of the 3rd Cycle of the Zairi International Awards for Excellence in Higher Education. These awards were established to recognize and celebrate Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) that are proactively addressing global educational challenges and making significant impacts within their own contexts through embracing excellence and innovation in specific areas relevant to digital transformation, research impact, service to the community, internationalization, equity, and more. 

Applications for these awards are open to HEIs worldwide (with no associated fees), and additional details can be found in the awards’ brochure, available for download: Here

In advance, I extend my appreciation to all the colleagues who will consider joining us and will as such enrich the quality and depth of the discussions.

I would also like to express gratitude to our confirmed sponsors: Coursera and McGrawHill as Silver Sponsors, and ADvanceHE and Cengage as Bronze Sponsors. I warmly invite other organizations and HEIs to support this upcoming event by exploring our various sponsorship and exhibition packages.

I eagerly look forward to welcoming you all to the beautiful city of Dubai!

Best Wishes, 
Dr Narimane Hadj-Hamou
Chair, 6th MENA Higher Education Leadership Forum
Founder & CEO, CLICKS