AArU Participates in the 8th Arab Scientific Forum on Social Responsibility and Rumors in the Digital Age

As part of its efforts to strengthen the role of universities in serving society and promoting digital awareness and social responsibility, the Association of Arab Universities (AArU) participated in the 8th Arab Scientific Forum, held online under the theme “Social Responsibility and Rumors… Towards an Aware Society in the Digital Age.”

The Forum was held on the occasion of World and Arab Social Responsibility Day, under the patronage of H.E. Prof. Amr Ezzat Salama, Secretary-General of AArU, and H.E. Prof. Ibrahim Al-Shaer, President of Al-Quds Open University.

The Forum was opened by Prof. Yousef Diab Awad, Director of the Arab Universities Social Responsibility Council, who highlighted the importance of strengthening Arab efforts to address the spread of rumors and misinformation and promote the ability to distinguish reliable information from misleading content.

In his remarks, H.E. Prof. Amr Ezzat Salama emphasized that addressing rumors and misinformation is a shared responsibility requiring coordinated efforts among universities, media and governmental institutions, and civil society. He highlighted the central role of universities in building awareness, developing critical thinking, and encouraging the verification of information sources before sharing content.

H.E. Prof. Salama also stressed that rapid developments in the digital environment and artificial intelligence place greater responsibility on universities to prepare future generations to engage critically, responsibly, and ethically with digital information and technologies.

He further highlighted the importance of expanding Arab cooperation among universities in digital awareness, information verification, AI ethics, and research, emphasizing that social responsibility is an integral part of the university’s mission and its role in supporting society and development.

The Forum discussed the spread of rumors in the digital age, their causes and impact on individuals, institutions, and societies, as well as the role of universities, official and media institutions, and civil society in countering misinformation and promoting digital awareness and responsible engagement with online content.

The Forum concluded with recommendations including strengthening digital and media literacy, developing critical-thinking and information-verification skills, supporting research on rumors and misinformation, advancing content-verification tools, and ensuring timely and transparent access to reliable information.

The Forum was organized by the Arab Universities Social Responsibility Council, one of the councils affiliated with AArU, as part of its efforts to strengthen the contribution of Arab universities to their societies and promote knowledge exchange and dialogue on emerging challenges.

AArU reaffirms its commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen the role of Arab universities in building societal awareness, addressing digital challenges, and harnessing knowledge, research, and technology in service of Arab societies.