The two-day gathering brought together leading academics, business leaders, and policymakers from around the globe to explore how innovation and technology can shape a more sustainable future.
In his opening remarks, Sherif Kamel, conference chair and dean of Onsi Sawiris School of Business, emphasized that ICSBT’Cairo2025 was “more than an academic gathering; it’s a hub for dialogue, ideas, and collaboration.” He highlighted that while technological progress is transformative, it is human ingenuity and creativity that ultimately drive meaningful change. Echoing this message, Maha Mourad, professor of marketing and associate dean for undergraduate studies and administration at Onsi Sawiris School of Business as well as the chair of the organizing committee, set the stage for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collective problem-solving across disciplines and industries.
A highlight of the discussions was the keynote by H.E. Prof. Abdulla Al Hawaj, founding president of Ahlia University, who reflected on the entrepreneurial vision behind establishing Bahrain’s first private university. He underlined the transformative role of higher education in developing innovation and global partnerships, reminding participants that “you will never regret a penny you spend investing in education.” His message resonated with the broader conference theme of leveraging academia to drive societal and economic progress. The conference was also attended by professor Allam Hamdan, dean of the college of business and finance at Ahlia University in Bahrain and the chair of the scientific committee.
Speakers and panelists throughout the conference examined how higher education institutions must evolve in response to new generations of learners and rapid technological shifts. Discussions highlighted how Generation Alpha views technology and artificial intelligence as natural extensions of themselves, calling for universities to adapt through gamified learning, storytelling, and experiential approaches. At the same time, strong governance, industry integration, and digital transformation were highlighted as essential for ensuring relevance, impact, and global recognition.
This year’s conference featured 49 in-person paper presentations and 12 speakers, attracting a total of around 80 participants. The diversity of participation reflected the event’s international reach, with speakers representing Egypt, Bahrain, Croatia, the UAE, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. Presenters came from a broad range of countries, including Hungary, Sweden, Malaysia, Qatar, Romania, India, and others, while workshop attendees joined from Egypt, Bahrain, Jordan, Hungary, Croatia, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, the UAE, and Malaysia.
Research presentations and expert dialogues expanded the conversation into business, policy, and societal domains. Topics ranged from artificial intelligence in human resources and sports analytics to green financing, fintech in emerging markets, and the Internet of Things (IoT) in food security. Ethical frameworks and responsible governance were recurring themes, emphasizing that sustainability and innovation cannot be pursued in isolation from values of integrity, accountability, and inclusivity.
The conference also celebrated outstanding scholarly contributions. Yasmine Eissa, assistant professor of economics at Onsi Sawiris School of Business, received the Best Presentation Award for her research on making trade policy more innovation-friendly. The Best Paper Award was presented to Loai Alnemer and Ali Rodan from the University of Jordan for their work on advanced multimodal learning in additive manufacturing.
Practical workshops, organized by Onsi Sawiris School of Business, enriched the academic exchange with actionable insights . Moataz El Helaly, associate professor at the Youssef Nabih Department of Accounting, Onsi Sawiris School of Business, led a session on how researchers can responsibly leverage artificial intelligence while preserving academic rigor, authenticity, and ethics. Meanwhile, Ahmed Tolba, professor of marketing and chair of the Heikal Department of Management, Onsi Sawiris School of Business, guided participants on writing impactful case studies for publication.
ICSBT’Cairo2025 emphasized the shared responsibility of academia, business, and policy to drive sustainable transformation. By driving dialogue on innovation, ethics, and collaboration, the conference highlighted that the challenges shaping the future of business and technology cannot be solved by a single discipline alone.
Onsi Sawiris School of Business recently hosted the International Conference on Sustainable Business and Technology (ICSBT’Cairo2025), organized by the EuroMid Academy of Business and Technology.
The CEMS Master in International Management (MIM), offered at Onsi Sawiris School of Business at The American University in Cairo (AUC), has achieved a remarkable milestone this year. The program has climbed six places to secure the 4th position worldwide in the prestigious QS Master’s in Management 2026 rankings, earning an overall score of 92.7 out of 100.
This achievement is far more than just a ranking—it reflects the collective strength of the CEMS Alliance and the unique academic and professional opportunities it offers. For our students, it means being part of one of the world’s top programs while studying at the heart of Cairo and engaging with a truly international network.
The program ranked joint first globally for value for money, achieving a perfect score of 100 compared to a global average of 61.3. It also ranked 9th globally for employability, scoring 89.5, nearly double the global average. These results reaffirm the program’s ability to deliver exceptional academic quality while ensuring strong career outcomes for its graduates.
The CEMS MIM consistently outperformed global benchmarks across all five QS indicators. For thought leadership it earned 89.1 compared to a global average of 48.9, for alumni outcomes, it scored 87 compared to 48.4, and for diversity, it reached 85.1 compared to 64. The program also received perfect scores of 100 in research impact, payback, international student ratio and gender balance, while near-perfect marks in return on investment and international faculty ratio, with scores of 99.9.
At Onsi Sawiris School of Business, the CEMS experience is unique. Students become part of a global alliance of 33 of the world’s leading business schools while benefiting from AUC’s position as one of the region’s premier institutions of higher education. The program connects students with over 70 corporate partners and eight social partners worldwide , embedding academic learning in real-world business and social impact contexts.
Nicole de Fontaines, Executive Director of CEMS, expressed pride in this achievement, noting that the rankings reflect the strength of the alliance:
“We’re proud that the CEMS Master in International Management continues to rise up the QS rankings. The recognition reflects the power of our unique network of business schools and corporate partners. Together, we offer students a vibrant community and outstanding employment opportunities. CEMS students benefit from a shared curriculum that blends academic excellence with hands-on experience through consultancy projects and internships. This allows them to showcase their talents to leading multinational companies, which is reflected in our strong employability ranking. Through a commitment to academic rigor, corporate collaboration, and socially responsible leadership, the CEMS Alliance prepares the next generation of leaders to engage with the complexities of today’s world with humility, integrity, and a global perspective.”
Sherif Kamel, Dean of Onsi Sawiris School of Business and Deputy Chair of the CEMS Alliance, emphasized this as a collective achievement for the CEMS Alliance and a defining moment for the school:
“This accomplishment is a testament to the power of collaboration within the CEMS Alliance and the strength of its shared vision to provide an education that is globally connected, academically rigorous, and locally relevant. At Onsi Sawiris School of Business, we are privileged to be part of CEMS, it reflects the dedication of our faculty, the ambition of our students, and the transformative impact of partnerships.
Ranking 4th globally endorses the CEMS MIM as a leader in global business education. This achievement is not only a reflection of the strength of the CEMS Alliance. Our students benefit from an education that is both internationally competitive and locally grounded, preparing them to make a meaningful impact on a global scale. This recognition demonstrates that excellence transcends boundaries and cultures when driven by purpose, collaboration, and a commitment to shaping the next generation of responsible global leaders.”
The rise of the CEMS Master in International Management (MIM) to 4th place globally is more than a moment of recognition—it is a celebration of the collective effort, vision, and dedication that define the CEMS Alliance and the Onsi Sawiris School of Business. This achievement highlights the program’s ability to combine academic rigor with real-world impact, offering students an unparalleled global experience that equips them to lead with purpose and integrity.
As Onsi Sawiris School of Business continues to contribute to one of the world’s most prestigious alliances, it reaffirms its commitment to developing globally minded, socially responsible leaders who are ready to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world.
This milestone is a proud reminder that excellence knows no boundaries—and at the heart of Cairo, the CEMS MIM is shaping the future of global business education.
The CEMS Master in International Management (MIM) climbed six places to secure the 4th position worldwide in the prestigious QS Master’s in Management 2026 rankings, earning an overall score of 92.7 out of 100.
