Dubai:Cairo University President Mohamed Samy Abdel Sadeq participated in the seventh MENA Higher Education Leadership Forum (MENA-HELF 2026) held in Dubai, UAE, from September 28 to 30. The event gathered university presidents, higher education leaders, experts, and specialists from the region and around the world.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the forum carried the theme "Global Challenges, Local Impact: Higher Education's Role in Shaping a Resilient Future" and focused on the future of higher education amid rapidly changing global conditions. Participants explored methods to enhance universities' capacity to adapt, innovate, and make a tangible impact in their communities.
Abdel Sadeq contributed to a presidential session titled 'Leading Universities in an Era of Uncertainty: Balancing Innovation, Values and Resilience.' He discussed the future of university leadership amid rapid technological, economic, and social changes, emphasizing the importance of building resilient universities that can anticipate and respond to change while maintaining their academic mission and institutional values.
He highlighted that university leadership today requires anticipating transformations, preparing for them, developing alternatives, and making decisions based on knowledge and data. Abdel Sadeq noted the significance of a university's ability to evolve and respond to change without losing its identity or abandoning its values and responsibilities towards students and the community.
Abdel Sadeq also pointed out that artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and changing labor market needs are key factors reshaping higher education globally. Universities must develop their academic, administrative, educational, and research systems, invest in building the capabilities of faculty members, students, and staff, and use technology to improve the quality of education and institutional performance.
He shared Cairo University's experience in artificial intelligence, academic program development, internationalization of education, and the expansion of international partnerships. He also highlighted efforts to link scientific research and innovation to industry and society's needs.
Finally, Abdel Sadeq emphasized the role of university leaders in expanding student activities and providing broader opportunities for students to create, innovate, and express their ideas. He stressed the necessity for universities to enhance their communication tools to engage with younger generations effectively, using language and methods suited to their interests and ways of thinking.