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.

Building on the themes of the Research Impact Task Force’s exposure draft framework, this session explores how business schools can demonstrate that their research makes a difference - beyond publications and rankings. Highlighting examples from schools across the MENA region, panelists will discuss how they define, measure, and communicate research impact. They will share strategies that uphold scholarly rigor while also ensuring societal, business, and policy relevance. Attendees will gain practical insights into integrating impact into their research culture, strengthening institutional narratives, and positioning their schools as drivers of meaningful change.

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.

A Peer Review Team (PRT) visit can be one of the most pivotal moments in a school’s accreditation journey. This session offers a practical, candid look at the PRT process through the eyes of experienced volunteer reviewers who have served on teams around the world. They will share what schools can do to prepare effectively, the common pitfalls to avoid, and strategies for creating an open, productive environment that supports a smooth and meaningful visit. The session will conclude with an open Q&A, giving attendees the opportunity to raise specific questions, explore real scenarios, and leave feeling more confident, prepared, and empowered for their upcoming PRT engagement.

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

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.

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 industries evolve at unprecedented speed, business schools must rethink how they design learning experiences that reflect real-world challenges and employer expectations. This session explores emerging models of industry co-creation from co-designed syllabi and capstone projects to team-taught courses that pair faculty with practitioners. Speakers will highlight approaches for developing employer-verified learning outcomes that strengthen academic rigor, enhance student employability, and ensure programs remain relevant to the region’s rapidly changing economic landscape.

The climate-change tipping point is approaching faster than expected, and business schools across MENA must move from rhetoric to real leadership. Through the MEBAS alliance, this session explores how schools can integrate sustainability into teaching, research, and community engagement to develop graduates who understand the climate crisis and are committed to action. Participants will learn how MEBAS advances regional impact through curriculum development, research collaboration, and cross-sector partnerships, and how these efforts align with the rapidly closing SDG 2030 window. The session challenges institutions to embed climate literacy, empower students as change agents, and forge partnerships that drive meaningful regional progress.