Elevate: Middle East and North Africa

Begin your day by networking over coffee. This is an excellent opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, make new connections, and discuss the sessions ahead.

Connect with colleagues from institutions similar to yours — large or small, public or private, research-intensive or teaching-focused, urban or rural. Exchange best practices, explore common challenges, and build valuable connections in an informal setting.

In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, business schools must reaffirm their role as centers of human intelligence (HI), places where curiosity, judgment, creativity, and empathy are cultivated with intention. While artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform industries, its greatest value emerges when it amplifies, rather than replaces, distinctly human capabilities. This session invites participants to rethink leadership and business education through the lens of human potential. We will explore how business schools can champion the development of skills that AI cannot replicate, such as critical thinking, ethical reasoning, emotional intelligence, and the ability to navigate ambiguity. Attendees will consider how technology, when used thoughtfully, can elevate human well-being, sharpen ethical decision-making, and support inclusive and sustainable development across the region.

Enjoy coffee and refreshments while connecting with colleagues and peers. Take this opportunity to visit the Exhibitor Showcase and discover new ideas and partnerships. Be sure to stop by the Discover AACSB area to explore our full range of offerings – from the Academy to technology, data, and other valuable resources designed to support your institution’s success.

As the global competition for talent intensifies, business schools across the Middle East and North Africa face a defining question: Should the region prioritize traditional degrees or practical skills to build future competitiveness? This moderated debate brings together academic and business leaders to explore the shifting balance between credentials and capabilities. Participants will examine the rise of lifelong and stackable learning, the growing relevance of micro-credentials, and employer-verified competencies in shaping workforce readiness. The discussion will push attendees to rethink what truly prepares graduates for a resilient, dynamic future.

Join your peers for an informal networking luncheon focused on exchanging best practices and fostering connections.

This session explores how the Middle East and North Africa can transform global volatility into regional opportunity. Speakers will examine how MENA business schools can harness shared cultural foundations and expand innovative ecosystems to strengthen regional collaboration and enhance their international standing. Participants will gain insights into how the region can leverage its unique strengths to drive talent development, deepen cross-border partnerships, and establish MENA as a growing hub of global business education.

Enjoy coffee and refreshments while connecting with colleagues and peers. Take this opportunity to visit the Exhibitor Showcase and discover new ideas and partnerships. Be sure to stop by the Discover AACSB area to explore our full range of offerings – from the Academy to technology, data, and other valuable resources designed to support your institution’s success.

Building on the insights from the previous session, this interactive discussion moves from global perspective to regional action. Attendees will work in small groups to exchange real examples of how their schools are creating positive impact through entrepreneurship initiatives, sustainability efforts, strategic partnerships, and community engagement. The session is designed to convert ideas into concrete next steps, empowering institutions to drive measurable transformation across the region.

In January 2026, AACSB will release an exposure draft of the proposed accreditation standards designed to guide business education into the next decade. This session will provide participants with an overview of the draft, highlight the major areas of change, and explain the intent behind the revisions. Attendees will have the opportunity to provide feedback and learn how to prepare their schools for potential impacts on accreditation expectations. The session offers an opportunity to understand the direction of AACSB’s evolving standards and contribute to shaping the future of business education.

Dinner is included in the conference registration fee, but an RSVP is required.