Launch of the Annual Meeting of the ARELEN Network Affiliated with the Association of Arab Universities at Bournemouth University, United Kingdom

Bournemouth – United Kingdom | 11-05-2026

The annual meeting of the Arab European Leadership and Education Network (ARELEN), affiliated with the Association of Arab Universities, officially commenced at Bournemouth University in the United Kingdom, with the participation of a distinguished group of university presidents, academics, and higher education experts from the Arab and European regions. The meeting aims to discuss the future of higher education and strengthen academic integration and joint cooperation between Arab and European institutions.

ARELEN, operating under the umbrella of the Association of Arab Universities, serves as an academic and strategic platform dedicated to fostering partnerships between Arab and European higher education institutions, supporting the advancement of university education, developing future skills, and expanding academic and research mobility in ways that contribute to building more responsive and globally connected education systems.

Prof. Amr Ezzat Salama, Secretary General of the Association of Arab Universities, emphasized that universities are no longer traditional institutions limited to granting degrees, but have become key partners in building modern economies, developing skills, and driving innovation. He noted that the world is rapidly shifting from a “degree-based economy” to a “skills-based economy,” requiring higher education institutions to redefine their roles and academic programmes in line with global transformations and labour market demands.

He further stressed the vital role of ARELEN in strengthening academic bridges between the Arab world and Europe and transforming academic dialogue into practical initiatives and projects that prepare graduates with future-ready skills capable of competing and integrating into regional and international labour markets.

Participants discussed several strategic themes, including the development of vocational and applied education, the integration of digital skills and artificial intelligence into academic programmes, the promotion of academic and professional mobility between Arab and European universities, and the establishment of stronger partnerships between universities and industry sectors to better align educational outcomes with the needs of modern economies.

The meeting comes within the framework of the Association of Arab Universities’ ongoing efforts to strengthen Arab-European cooperation in higher education and scientific research, support joint initiatives that contribute to the advancement of university education systems, foster innovation, and build more resilient educational models capable of responding to global economic and technological transformations.