Association of Arab Universities Concludes Agreement to Establish and Launch the International Institute of Online Education – Arab Regional Centre (IIOE Arab Regional Centre)

In a strategic step reflecting its commitment to advancing digital transformation and enhancing higher education systems across the Arab region, the Association of Arab Universities (AArU) concluded an agreement to establish and launch the International Institute of Online Education – Arab Regional Centre (IIOE Arab Regional Centre). The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Global Future of Higher Education Summit held in Shenzhen, People's Republic of China.

The agreement ceremony was attended by H.E. Prof. Amr Ezzat Salama, Secretary-General of the Association of Arab Universities; Prof. Li Ming, Secretary-General of the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE) Secretariat; Prof. Mona Abdel Aal Al-Zahry, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Misr University for Science and Technology, Arab Republic of Egypt, and Director of the IIOE Arab Regional Centre; Ms. Bi Xiaohan, Deputy Director of the International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO (UNESCO-ICHEI), China; and Ms. Lina Al-Bitar, Director General Administration at the Association of Arab Universities.

H.E. Prof. Amr Ezzat Salama emphasized that the launch of the Arab Regional Centre represents a significant milestone in the development of Arab higher education and a major step toward accelerating digital transformation within Arab universities. He noted that the Centre will support online teaching and learning, strengthen academic capacity-building efforts, and promote the integration of artificial intelligence applications and emerging technologies into educational processes.

He further stated that the Centre will serve as a specialized regional platform for training faculty members and academic leaders, facilitating the exchange of expertise and international best practices, and contributing to the development of human capital and the readiness of Arab universities to respond effectively to the rapidly evolving higher education landscape.

In addition, H.E. the Secretary-General held a meeting with Prof. Li Ming, Prof. Mona Abdel Aal Al-Zahry, Ms. Bi Xiaohan, and Mr. Sit Fung, during which they reviewed the implementation mechanisms of the agreement and the Centre’s action plan for the upcoming phase. The discussions also covered joint programs and initiatives planned to serve Arab universities.

The meeting further explored opportunities to expand cooperation in the fields of digital transformation and artificial intelligence, develop specialized training programs, and enhance knowledge exchange between Arab universities and international academic institutions. These efforts aim to foster a more innovative and sustainable educational ecosystem and strengthen the ability of Arab universities to adapt to global developments and emerging challenges.

The establishment of the IIOE Arab Regional Centre comes within the framework of the strategic partnership between the Association of Arab Universities and the International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO (UNESCO-ICHEI). The Centre aims to strengthen international cooperation, promote digital innovation in education, and enable Arab universities to benefit from the latest global practices and experiences in online education and smart learning, thereby supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and enhancing the quality of higher education across the Arab world.