AArU Participates in the Arab Network Forum for Quality Assurance in Higher Education

As part of its ongoing efforts to address the rapid transformation of higher education and strengthen regional dialogue on quality assurance and academic accreditation, the Association of Arab Universities (AArU) participated in the Arab Network for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ANQAHE) Forum 2026, held in Doha on 7–8 October under the theme “Exploring Opportunities in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation.” The Forum brought together leading higher education officials, experts, researchers, and quality assurance and accreditation specialists from the Arab region and beyond.

H.E. Prof. Amr Ezzat Salama, Secretary-General of AArU, participated in a panel discussion titled “From Compliance to Impact: Redefining Quality Assurance in Higher Education in an Era of Transformation,” moderated by Dr. Mazin Hasnah, alongside leading experts and practitioners in quality assurance and academic accreditation.

In his intervention, Prof. Salama emphasized that AI and digital transformation are redefining the societal role of universities. The transformation is not only about how education is delivered, but also about what society expects universities to contribute to development, innovation, and addressing emerging challenges. He highlighted a fundamental shift in the quality debate: beyond asking “Is the university providing quality education?” to asking “What difference does that education make?”

He noted that Arab universities already generate significant impact by educating millions of young people, producing knowledge, advancing research and innovation, and contributing to national development. However, a key challenge remains the systematic measurement and effective demonstration of this impact. Graduation rates, research publications, rankings, and accreditation remain important indicators, but they should be complemented by measures of graduate employability, research-to-solution outcomes, innovation, entrepreneurship, job creation, and societal value.

Prof. Salama called for a shift from compliance to impact, moving from a “compliance dashboard” to an “impact dashboard” and from measuring inputs and outputs to assessing outcomes and societal impact. In the age of AI, he stressed that digital transformation must ultimately deliver better learning, stronger research, greater inclusion, and tangible benefits to society.

AArU’s participation reflects its commitment to advancing quality assurance and academic accreditation across Arab higher education, strengthening cooperation with specialized regional and international bodies, and supporting universities in moving beyond meeting standards to demonstrating measurable value and meaningful impact for students, economies, and societies.