On 29 September 2026, the International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO (UNESCO-ICHEI), the Association of Arab Universities (AArU) and the Arab Regional Centre of the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE) jointly held an online webinar to introduce the positioning and services of the IIOE Arab Regional Centre to universities across the Arab region and to discuss pathways for institutional cooperation and capacity building. The webinar was the first public and wide-ranging consultation held since the establishment of the IIOE Arab Regional Centre. Moderated by Dr. Dalia Yousef of the IIOE Egypt National Centre, the webinar brought together more than 150 university representatives from countries including Egypt, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Sudan and Lebanon.

In his opening remarks, H.E. Prof. Amr Ezzat Salama, Secretary-General of the AArU, noted that the real challenge of digital transformation in higher education lies not in whether universities have access to technology, but in how they can use technology effectively, build the capacities of their institutions and workforce, and integrate technology into teaching practice. Drawing on the regional influence of the AArU and the platform and global resources of the IIOE, the IIOE Arab Regional Centre can play an important role in responding to the different needs and priorities of universities in the region and helping them develop appropriate pathways for cooperation.

Mr. CAO Zian, Chief of the IIOE Management Centre, UNESCO-ICHEI, introduced the IIOE online learning platform and its micro-certification resources, which can be adapted to the needs of different countries. Drawing on the cases of the IIOE Egypt National Centre and the IIOE Morocco National Centre, he shared their experience in localising IIOE resources in line with the needs of national universities and sectors. He noted that these course resources and practical experiences would provide strong support for the Regional Centre's efforts in faculty capacity building and in fostering mutual learning and cooperation among universities in the Arab region.

Prof. Mona Abdel-Aal Elzahry, Director of the IIOE Arab Regional Centre, presented the Regional Centre's strategic positioning and roadmap. She noted that the Regional Centre is dedicated to establishing a sustainable ecosystem that builds localised faculty capacity and closes digital divides in higher education across the Arab region. Operating under the joint governance of the AArU and UNESCO-ICHEI, the Regional Centre has a collaborative network covering more than 450 universities across Arab States.

In terms of implementation, the Regional Centre will carry out its work around six actionable strategic pillars: building a network of partner universities across all Arab States; localising and co-constructing course resources to address the region's specific socio-cultural and educational needs; providing faculty with structured pathways for skill enhancement through micro-certification programmes; hosting policy dialogues, leadership symposia and targeted workshops to foster expertise exchange and the sharing of good practices; conducting research to monitor and evaluate the digital transformation of higher education in the region; and strengthening collaboration with global technology enterprises to deepen academia-industry linkages.

The Regional Centre's three-year implementation plan is structured across four phases. Phase 1 will assess the digital and AI maturity of more than 50 pilot Arab universities. Phase 2 will deliver localised training and micro-certification, with a focus on "AI + Discipline" courses in fields such as engineering, medicine and education. Phase 3 will work towards integrating IIOE micro-certification into national professional development frameworks for faculty. Phase 4 will define digital academic excellence metrics and guidelines for Arab universities and launch recognition awards to celebrate institutional innovation.