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29 September 2026
AArU Secretary-General Opens Introductory Webinar for the Arab Regional Center for the International Institute of Online Education
29 September 2026
As part of its commitment to strengthening regional and international cooperation in higher education and supporting digital transformation and capacity building across Arab universities, the Association of Arab Universities (AArU) organized an introductory webinar for the Arab Regional Center for the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE), in partnership with the UNESCO International Centre for Higher Education Innovation (UNESCO-ICHEI).
The webinar, titled “Introducing the IIOE Arab Regional Center to Arab Universities,” was opened by H.E. Prof. Amr Ezzat Salama, Secretary-General of AArU, and brought together higher education leaders and representatives from Arab universities.
The Arab Regional Center for IIOE is based at the headquarters of the Association of Arab Universities in Amman, providing a regional platform to support universities in digital transformation, professional development, skills development and innovation in teaching and learning.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Salama emphasized that digital transformation is no longer a future scenario for higher education, but an accelerating reality. The key challenge, he noted, is no longer whether digital transformation will take place, but whether individuals and institutions are prepared to lead it and adapt to its demands.
He further stressed that digital transformation is not only about technology. It is fundamentally about people, skills, quality, inclusion, and institutional resilience and adaptability, highlighting the need to move beyond technology adoption toward building the capacities required to use it intelligently, responsibly and creatively.
The webinar introduced the role of UNESCO-ICHEI and the Arab Regional Center for IIOE, as well as the IIOE platform, its educational and training opportunities, faculty development programmes, professional development pathways and Micro-Credentials.
Dr. Mona Abdel Aal El-Zohry, Director of the Arab Regional Center for IIOE, presented the Center’s action plan and the support available to participating universities, including opportunities for capacity building, professional development, digital transformation and regional cooperation.
Mr. CAO Zian, Director of the IIOE Management Center at UNESCO-ICHEI, provided an overview of UNESCO-ICHEI and the IIOE platform, highlighting opportunities for institutional engagement and regional collaboration and sharing examples of university participation.
The webinar concluded with an interactive discussion and Q&A session, allowing participants to explore their institutional needs, priorities, potential areas of cooperation, and pathways for engaging with IIOE programmes.
This initiative reflects the strategic partnership between AArU and UNESCO-ICHEI and AArU’s commitment to strengthening the digital capacities of Arab higher education institutions, facilitating knowledge exchange, and supporting universities in responding effectively to the rapidly evolving landscape of education, technology and the future of work.
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