Marking the first time for the event to be held in Egypt, AUC is hosting the 2024 Digital Universities Arab World conference, which kicks off today. The event includes more than 300 industry leaders from over 24 countries spanning four continents, including 150 university representatives, along with industry partners, researchers and innovators from around the world.
"Our vision is to foster critical discussions on the potential and challenges of digital transformation in higher education,in our region, and to bring these essential conversations to Egypt and North Africa."
Organized in partnership with Times Higher Education (THE) and the American University of the Middle East (AUM), the Innovation for Sustainable Digital Higher Education conference will run through September 18, addressing opportunities and challenges of digital transformation in higher education and exploring ethical considerations as well as issues of accessibility.
“We are glad to co-organize and co-host this significant conference at AUC," said President Ahmad Dallal. "Our vision is to foster critical discussions on the potential and challenges of digital transformation in higher education in our region, and to bring these essential conversations to Egypt and North Africa." He added that AUC’s collaboration with Times Higher Education and the American University of the Middle East exemplifies the University’s dedication to creating impactful partnerships.
The event features over 60 speakers who will engage in in-depth discussions, share knowledge and analyze data-driven case studies on the impact of digital transformation, artificial intelligence and governance in higher education. Topics include how digital transformation can support universities in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the role of institutional leadership in driving digital transformation at universities, the optimum blended learning model to achieve the right balance of learning and accessibility for universities in the MENA region, student expectations from digital universities, the quality of online learning, development of student skills to ensure digital literacy, the potential of AI for higher education, academic integrity in the age of AI, the future of work in light of digital transformation, and the current and future status of online university course accreditation in the MENA region.
“Digital Universities Arab World is about showcasing innovation in education and providing practical examples of digital transformation from across the region. It's been a pleasure to co-host with The American University in Cairo, a leader in driving change and empowering the next generation of learners.”
These conversations aim to develop strategies for digital transformation in higher education that are inclusive, responsive and impactful while considering local, regional and global contexts, Dallal emphasized. “The digital transformation initiatives we choose to implement must be shaped by the specific contexts of our region, which faces rising geopolitical, economic and environmental challenges to sustainable development, as well as significant disparities in income and resource access.”
Charlotte Coles, director of event partnerships and engagement at THE, expressed her excitement about collaborating with AUC. “Digital Universities Arab World is about showcasing innovation in education and providing practical examples of digital transformation from across the region. It's been a pleasure to co-host with The American University in Cairo, a leader in driving change and empowering the next generation of learners.”
“The digital transformation initiatives we choose to implement must be shaped by the specific contexts of our region, which faces rising geopolitical, economic and environmental challenges to sustainable development, as well as significant disparities in income and resource access.”
The conference attracts speakers and attendees from several universities and higher education institutions, including AUC, Ajman University, Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, King Saud University, The University of Jordan, NYU Abu Dhabi, the American University of Beirut, the American University of the Middle East, University of Exter, Abu Dhabi University, The American University of Sharjah, Lebanese American University, Danish School of Education and the Mohamed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences. Speakers also hail from prominent national, regional and international organizations, including Zewail City of Science, Technology and Innovation; Times Higher Education; Egypt's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research; the Association of Arab Universities; the British Council; Macmillan Learning, Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation and others.
Welcome to our newest faculty members joining us this fall! The incoming faculty are bringing their diverse backgrounds and varied research interests to AUC, with studies ranging from development economics to archival ethics to Mamluk manuscript culture, and everything in between. We’re happy to welcome them to the University and get to know them through their video introductions.
Join us in welcoming our new AUC faculty members, who come from around the world and bring fresh perspectives to the classroom. Find out about their interests, passions, and sources of inspiration!
Assistant Professor of Law
Department of Law
Research Interests: Comparative and public law, law and technology
"I look at the regulation of social media firms, venture capital firms, and other contemporary issues to understand how global systems are trying to resolve these cases, especially from a public law perspective."
Assistant Professor
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Research Interests: Computer hardware, specifically hardware security of heterogeneous computing platforms
"In the future, I plan to further explore systems design while still guaranteeing their hardware security."
Postdoctoral Fellow
J-Pal MENA
Research Interests: Development, agriculture and resource economics
"In development economics, I’m doing applied microeconomic research to study the impact of randomized interventions on the livelihood of people living in low-income or developing countries."
Associate Professor of Practice
Department of the Arts
Research Interests: Popular language, from traditions to vernacular languages
"I’m interested in languages that emerge from different communities or traditions. I’ve been working on the history of revolt, revolutions and protests across the world in the past, present and future."
Assistant Professor
Department of Electronics and Communications Engineering
Research Interests: Wireless communication, information theory
"My specialties are communication engineering, wireless communication and physical layer, security and privacy. And recently, I got into machine learning in communication."
Assistant Professor
Mohamed Shafik Gabr Department of Economics
Research Interests: Global value chains
"I’m researching the effect of international interlinkages on labor market outcomes and other development milestones like innovation."
Postdoctoral Fellow
J-Pal MENA
Research Interests: Development, gender and migration economics
"My recent research looked at the impact of male migration on female labor force participation in Egypt."
Associate Professor of Practice and Associate Director of Digital Education
Center for Learning and Teaching
Research Interests: Online and blended learning, AI in education
"My fields of interest are instructional design, educational technology, quality assurance, and online and distance education."
Assistant University Archivist for Records Management
Libraries and Learning Technologies
Research Interests: Integrated records management programs, archival ethics, open access and legislated documentary obligation
“At the start, I really loved puzzles. So I thought, how can I translate my love of puzzles into something more professional? That’s how I ended up working in archives.”
Assistant Professor of Islamic art and Architecture
Sheikh Hassan Abbas Sharbatly Department of Arab and Islamic Civilizations
Research Interests: Arabic calligraphy, manuscript illumination, art and architecture of Egypt and the Persian world
"My main research interests are the manuscript culture, architecture, and intellectual life of the Medieval Muslim world with a focus on the Mamluks."
Associate Professor
Mohamed Shafik Gabr Department of Economics
Research Interests: Institutions, social dynamics, migration and chaos theory
"I’m what you might consider a heterodox economist; I’m looking at alternative approaches to economics, working with social scientists and anthropologists. In addition to looking at institutions and groups, I’m interested in understanding why people do what they do, how individual behavior is defined, how individuals act as a larger part of society and how society evolves."
William K. Simpson and Marilyn M. Simpson Visiting Professor in Egyptology
Department of Sociology, Egyptology and Anthropology
Research Interests: Egyptology, archaeology and ancient history
"When I first came to Egypt, I fell in love — not only with the ancient monuments but also with the people and the landscape. Soon after, I decided that this was my life, that I wanted to be an Egyptologist. Now, I have been running an excavation down in Luxor for 23 years where we have discovered all sorts of amazing things. We have flower bouquets that were used as a farewell to the deceased 3,000 years ago, among other everyday objects. That’s why I wanted to become an Egyptologist; we share so much in common with the ancient Egyptians."
Associate Professor of Practice
Department of the Arts
“I’m coming from a professional background as a costume designer and am entering academia as a new beginning. I made the switch because I love engaging with students and I love the human element in teaching.”
Assistant Professor
Department of Architecture
Research Interests: Displacement and refugee camps, subversive aesthetics in art and architecture, critical heritage studies
Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Competing with over 600 competitors from 15 countries around the world, including USA, India, and Turkey, Mohamed Khaled, Bachelor of Computer Engineering student, ranked third worldwide in the prestigious Capsim International Challenge Spring 2024 which demonstrated exceptional business acumen.
About the Competition
This biannual competition tests participants’ skills in managing the complexities of running a global corporation. Open to students who have completed a Capsim Simulation in their business courses within the past year, the challenge requires competitors to create market-leading virtual enterprises through strategic planning and execution.
Mohamed's Journey
Complementing his engineering background, Mohamed is also minoring in business administration. He eagerly embraced the opportunity to expand his business knowledge through this renowned international competition.
“Capsim provided me with a real-world experience, preparing me for the future of opening my own company”. He shared, “I learned to be patient and that I always need a strategic plan for now and the future, because if things don’t work out, I need to be flexible enough to cope with the market. I hope there will be more AUC candidates competing in this competition over the next few years!”.
Support and Guidance
Encouraged by Irene Shaker, assistant professor of marketing, Mohamed received invaluable support and guidance. Shaker emphasized the competition’s role in enhancing decision-making skills and strategic thinking.
“It’s not only about understanding business functions and departmental decision-making process, competing against global peers reveals what can be achieved in terms of profits and market shares”. She added, “Mohamed displayed essential qualities for success: a strong understanding of business functions, self-confidence, risk calculation, strategic thinking, analytical skills, and excellent time management. Moments like this are truly rewarding and reinforce the value of the efforts we invest in the development of our students”.
Continuing Excellence
The achievement highlights the ongoing success of AUC School of Business competitors in the Capsim Challenge:
These accomplishments truly highlight the caliber and dedication of our students. It's a testament to their commitment to strategic growth and success.
Mohamed Khaled, Bachelor of Computer Engineering student, ranked third worldwide in the prestigious Capsim International Challenge Spring 2024
