The international forum brings together a distinguished group of decision-makers, academics, and thought leaders from the Arab world and beyond, creating a rich tapestry of diverse expertise that enhances dialogue and expands the scope of future vision.
Categories of Speakers
Ministers of Higher Education:
- Participate in the opening ministerial session to discuss the future of Arab higher education.
- Share insights on national reforms and strategic directions.
International Experts:
- Professors and researchers from world-leading universities such as Harvard, Stanford, and Oxford.
- Present recent experiences in program modernization, educational innovation, and quality assurance.
Arab & Regional Experts:
- University leaders, deans, and renowned academics from various Arab countries.
- Highlight successful local practices and shared challenges in higher education.
Workshop Coordinators:
- Specialists in artificial intelligence, emerging professions, the green economy, and academic cooperation.
- Facilitate interactive discussions and present practical applications.
Directors of Regional & International Organizations:
- UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).
- ALECSO (Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization).
- ISESCO (Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).
- Association of Arab Universities.
- Provide global perspectives and regional initiatives supporting quality in higher education.
ٍSession 1
Her excellency Sheikha Dr. Hessa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani
Speaker
The Wellbeing Center & Qatar University
Prof. Mahmoud Abdo Elsayed
Speaker
World Bank
Dr. Fatima Al Ruwais
Moderator
RCQE
Dr. Fatima Al Ruwais
Affiliation: Assistant Director General of the RCQE
Position: RCQE
Prof. Mahmoud Abdo Elsayed
Affiliation: Senior Education Economist specializing in global education practices
Position: World Bank
Prof. Mahmoud Elsayed is a Senior Economist in the World Bank’s Education Global Practice, where he leads education programs in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. He works with government officials, policymakers, and partners to develop and implement strategies for educational improvement and skills development. Mahmoud has contributed to projects in Yemen, Iraq, and other MENA countries, focusing on expanding access to education, strengthening systems, and supporting human capital development. He holds a master’s degree in Public Finance Policy and a Ph.D. in Public Policy from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University.
Her excellency Sheikha Dr. Hessa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani
Affiliation: The Wellbeing Center & Qatar University
Position: Chairperson and Founder, The Wellbeing Center; Assistant Professor, Qatar University
Country: Qatar
Dr. Hessa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is the President and Founder of the Good Life Center for Professional Development and Training in Doha, Qatar. She is an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Sciences and previously served as Dean of the College of Education at Qatar University. Her interests include advancing inclusive teaching, experiential learning, and integrating institutional well-being approaches. Her work focuses on learning that is guided by students’ interests, motivations, and diverse backgrounds. She is dedicated to exploring and adopting diverse curricula to transform educational programs towards entrepreneurship and renewing them to become experiential and collaborative. Dr. Hessa advocates for the development and introduction of innovative programs focused on building generations of responsible and engaged citizens.
Her recent research has centered on the concept of the good life in educational environments, approaches to inclusive education, and character development and education.
ٍSession 2
Dr. Sharifa Alghowinem
Speaker
MIT
Prof. Rima Abdulrazzaq
Moderator
Arabian Gulf University
Prof. Rima Abdulrazzaq
Affiliation: Arabian Gulf University
Position: Dean of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research
Country: Kingdom of Bahrain
Dr. Rima Abdul Razzaq is a professor of Physiology who obtained her BSc. degree at the American University of Beirut (AUB) in 1988, then a PhD in Physiology at the University of Southampton in 1992. She has taught all fields of Physiology for the past 30 years to medical, medical sciences and to master’s students. Her other academic roles within the problem-based (PBL) setting include PBL tutoring, chairing PBL and coordinating a few PBL problems. She also encourages innovation in education and accommodation of new teaching methods and technologies such as integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into the medical curriculum for training the next generation of doctors.
She has also undertaken some administrative roles, such as chairing the Physiology department at AGU for 5 years and has been appointed as the Dean of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research at AGU last academic year.
Dr. Sharifa Alghowinem
Affiliation: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Position: Research Scientist
Country: United States of America
Dr. Alghowinem earned her PhD in multimodal AI from the Australian National University in 2015, following an MSc in Software Engineering at the University of Canberra in 2010 and a BSc in Computer Applications at King Saud University in 2004. Stationed at MIT’s Personal Robots Group as a research scientist, she develops AI models that provide insights for enhanced human-robot interaction. With an expertise in multimodal AI, Dr. Sharifa Alghowinem models human behaviors using advanced AI frameworks. Her research focuses on mood and behavior recognition, using speech, gaze, and body movements to detect conditions like depression, suicide risk and deception. With a teaching background at the University of Canberra and a current role as Associate Director of postgraduate programs at Prince Sultan University, she possesses eight years of experience teaching computer science topics, such as AI, to diverse age groups.
Session 3
Prof. Mohammed bin Yahya Al Zahrani
Speaker
President of the Saudi Electronic University
Prof. Adel Mohammad Abuzenadah
Speaker
President of King Faisal University.
Dr. Khaldoon Al-Roomi
Moderator
Arabian Gulf University
Dr. Khaldoon Al-Roomi
Affiliation: Arabian Gulf University
Position: Associate Professor in Family and Community Medicine
Country: Kingdom of Bahrain
Khaldoon Al-Roomi is a specialist Family Physician, an Associate Professor in Family and Community Medicine and a former Dean at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, kingdom of Bahrain. After his medical graduation (MD. Excellent Grade) from the College of Medicine and Allied Sciences, King Abdul-Aziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, he pursued his post graduate training from the United Kingdom (University of Dundee, MSc) and Australia (University of Newcastle, PhD). He has published around 60 papers in peer reviewed journals. His research interests are epidemiology of non-communicable diseases, evidence-based medicine, randomized clinical trials,
applications of artificial intelligence in education and training of health profession students and medical education. He can be contacted at email: alroomi@agu.edu.bh
Prof. Adel Mohammad Abuzenadah
Affiliation: King Faisal University
Position: President, King Faisal University
Country: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
October 2024–Present
President for King Faisal University.
April 2024– 2025
Member of the Board of Trustees at King Abdulaziz University.
January 2023 – October 2024
Vice President for Educational Affairs, King Abdulaziz University.
January 2023 – October 2024
Chairman of King Abdulaziz University Council Secretariat
January 2023 – October 2024
Chairman of King Abdulaziz University Deans’ Advisory Committee Secretariat
June 2018 – December 2022
General supervisor of all educational services at King Abdulaziz University
December 2017– December 2022
Director of King Fahad Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz university, Jeddah. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
February 2017– December 2022
Director of the initiative to provide specialized medical and laboratory services at King Abdulaziz university, Jeddah. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Dr. Mohammed bin Yahya Al Zahrani
Affiliation: Saudi Electronic University
Position: President of the Saudi Electronic University
Country: Saudi Arabia
Session 4
Prof. Amr Khairy Abdalla
Speaker
University for Peace (UPEACE)
Dr. Sabah Al-Jenaid
Speaker
Arabian Gulf University
Prof. Odeh Al-Jayyousi
Moderator
Head of Innovation and Technology Management
Dr. Amr Khairy Abdalla
Affiliation: University for Peace (UPEACE)
Position: Professor Emeritus
Dr. Amr Khairy Abdalla is a Professor Emeritus at the University for Peace (UPEACE). He has a law degree from Egypt where he practiced law as a prosecuting attorney, and a Master’s degree in Sociology and a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University.
For over three decades, he has been teaching graduate classes, conducting training, evaluation and research in conflict analysis and resolution and peacebuilding worldwide.
Dr. Sabah Al-Jenaid
Affiliation: Arabian Gulf University
Position: Associate Professor in Environmental and Biological Studies
Dr. Sabah is an Associate Professor of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Environment, with more than thirty years of professional experience in teaching and research in GIS, remote sensing, and climate change. Dr. Al-Junaid’s research interests focus on vulnerability assessments, climate change adaptation, and sea-level rise along coastal zones. She contributes to research development, land-use change mapping and modeling, suitability and sensitivity analysis, and disaster-risk assessment. She also applies remote-sensing indicators to map and predict changes in terrestrial and marine resources.
Al-Junaid has served as a technical facilitator in preparing national communications for Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, and Qatar, in collaboration with the UNEP Regional Office for West Asia, under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. She is a member of the Arab Integrated Water Resources Management Network, the Arab Disaster Risk Reduction STAG Group, and the Gulf Cooperation Council Geographical Society. In 2021, she joined the MENA region’s Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation (ECO-DRR/CCA) group.
Prof. Odeh Al-Jayyousi
Affiliation: Arabian Gulf University
Position: Head of Innovation and Technology Management
Country: Kingdom of Bahrain
Session 5
Ziad Omer Al Shaltouni
Speaker
University professor and Academic researcher
Mr.Mohammed Ali Ahmadi
Speaker
Director, Engagement and Career Guidance Skills (Tamkeen)
Prof. Abdelhalim Deifallah
Moderator
Arabian Gulf University
Ziad Omer Al Shaltouni
Affiliation: Al Ahliya Private School
Position: School Principal and Academic Researcher
Country: United Arab Emirates
Dr. Ziad Omar Al-Shaltooni is an academic and educational media professional currently serving as the School Principal of Al Ahliya Private School in the United Arab Emirates. He is also an academic researcher and professor at several universities. He holds a PhD in Arabic and Islamic Studies from the University of Jordan, a Master’s in Educational Institution Management from the American Academy, and a Higher Diploma in Education from the Canadian Institute of Studies in Dubai. He has extensive expertise in educational leadership, institutional development, and research supervision.
Mr. Mohammed Ali Ahmadi
Affiliation: Tamkeen
Position: Director, Engagement and Career Guidance Skills (Tamkeen)
Prof. Abdelhalim Deifallah
Affiliation: Arabian Gulf University
Position: Dean of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences
Country: Kingdom of Bahrain
Session 6
Dr. Ghazi Al-Otaibi
Speaker
Arabian Gulf University
Prof. Salwa AlJassar
Speaker
Kuwait University
Prof. Mohammed Abu Darwish
Speaker
ALESCO
Prof. Abdulsalam Al-Joufi
Speaker
ALESCO
Dr. Omar Al Halli
Speaker
ISESCO
Dr. Chokri Barhoumi
Moderator
UNESCO | RCQE
Dr. Ghazi Al-Otaibi
Affiliation: Arabian Gulf University
Position: Vice President of Academic Affairs and Scientific Research
Country: Kingdom of Bahrain
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION
Current Position
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Scientific Research
Arabian Gulf University, Kingdom of Bahrain
Member of the Board of Trustees, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University – Dammam
Former Positions
- Vice President for Academic Affairs, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam
- Dean, College of Medical Sciences
- President, Saudi Scientific Society for Respiratory Care
Academic Degrees
-
Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Education
University of Dundee, Scotland, UK -
Ph.D. in Health Sciences (Mechanical Ventilation)
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, U.S.A. -
M.Sc. in Allied Health Professional (Respiratory Care)
Georgia State University, Atlanta, U.S.A. -
B.Sc. in Respiratory Care
University of Kansas, Kansas City, U.S.A.
Prof. Salwa AlJassar
Affiliation: Kuwait University
Position: Professor
Country: Kuwait
Prof. Salwa Abdullah Aljassar is a Professor of Curriculum and Social Studies Teaching Methods at the College of Education, Kuwait University, and a former Member of Parliament and Chair of the Parliamentary Education Committee. She previously served as Director of the Curriculum and Textbooks Department at the Ministry of Education and has been a board member of several organizations, including the International Organization for Women’s Empowerment. She is also the founder of the Arab Women Academics Association. She earned her PhD in Curriculum and Teaching Methods from the University of Pittsburgh, and completed leadership programs at Harvard University and American University in Washington.
Prof. Mohammed Abu Darwish
Affiliation: Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO)
Position: Director, Science and Scientific Research Directorate
Country: Tunis
Professor Mohammad Sand Abu-Darwish is a Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and has served since October 2022 as Director of the Department of Science and Scientific Research at ALECSO. He previously held prominent academic leadership positions, including President of Aqaba University of Technology, Vice President, Dean of Scientific Research, and Dean at Al-Balqa Applied University. A recipient of several distinguished fellowships such as Fulbright (USA), Erasmus Mundus (EU), and German Academic Excellence, Prof. Abu-Darwish has published widely in international journals with over 2,300 citations. At ALECSO, he leads the implementation of the Arab Strategy for Scientific Research and Innovation, fostering scientific excellence, innovation, and sustainable development across the Arab world.
Prof. Abdulsalam Al-Joufi
Affiliation: Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States
Position: Advisor to the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States
Country: Kingdom of Bahrain
Dr. Omar Al Halli
Affiliation:Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – ISESCO
Country: Kingdom of Bahrain
Dr. Chokri Barhoumi
Affiliation: UNESCO | RCQE
Position: Knowledge Management Specialist
Country: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Dr. Chokri Barhoumi is an Associate Professor specializing in Knowledge Management. He earned his PhD in E-Learning and Knowledge Management from Macerata University, Italy (2011). With over 14 years of academic experience, he served as an Associate Professor at Taibah University in Al Madinah Al Munawwara, Saudi Arabia (2011–2024). Currently, he is a Knowledge Management Specialist at UNESCO | RCQE (since August 2025). His research interests include data analysis, knowledge management systems (KMS), information and data management, instructional design theories and models, information systems design, IT project management methods, and research methodologies.
Prof. Salwa AlJassar
Affiliation: Kuwait University
Position: Professor
Country: Kuwait
Dr. Salwa Abdullah Aljassar is a Professor of Curriculum and Social Studies Teaching Methods at the College of Education, Kuwait University, and a former Member of Parliament and Chair of the Parliamentary Education Committee. She previously served as Director of the Curriculum and Textbooks Department at the Ministry of Education and has been a board member of several organizations, including the International Organization for Women’s Empowerment. She is also the founder of the Arab Women Academics Association. She earned her PhD in Curriculum and Teaching Methods from the University of Pittsburgh, and completed leadership programs at Harvard University and American University in Washington.
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