IREG 2025 Conference

University Rankings and Challenges of Sustainability
at Abu Dhabi University, UAE

PROGRAM

(as of 27 August 2025)

9 December 2025 (Tuesday)

Venue: Emirates Palace Hotel

4:00 – 5:00 PM IREG Executive Committee (close meeting)

6:00 – 8:00 PM Welcome reception for IREG 2025 participants

10 December 2025 (Wednesday)

Venue: Emirates Palace Hotel

10:00 Opening Ceremony
Inaugural Session
Welcome Notes

Prof. Ghassan Fouad Aouad, Conference Advisor - Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University
Waldemar Siwinski, President, IREG Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence

ICASF Panel

Presidential Perspectives: Redefining Global Leadership in Higher Education for a Sustainable World and Inclusive Society

Overview: This high-level panel brings together university leaders to explore how leadership in higher education is transforming in response to global challenges. The conversation will focus on how institutional strategies are being reshaped to promote a more sustainable world and an inclusive society, emphasizing innovation, policy leadership, and cross-border collaboration.

SDG Alignment: The session aligns closely with Sustainable Development Goal 4 on quality education, Goal 10 on reduced inequalities, Goal 13 on climate action, and Goal 17 on partnerships for the goals. It reflects the growing commitment of higher education institutions to integrate sustainability and inclusivity into their core missions.

Objectives: The objective of this session is to highlight presidential perspectives on driving systemic change within universities to align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It aims to showcase leadership strategies that promote sustainability, equity, and global impact in higher education.

Moderator

Prof. Ghassan Aouad

Chancellor, Abu Dhabi University

H.E. Prof. Ebrahim Al Hajri

President of Khalifa University of Science and Technology

Prof. Ahmed Al Raeesi

Vice Chancellor, United Arab Emirates University

Prof. Amr Salama

Secretary General, Association of Arab Universities

Dr. Ashwin Fernandes

Executive Director (AMESA), Quacquarelli Symonds (QS)

Prof. Dr. Havidan Rodriguez

President, University at Albany, State University of New York (SUNY)

Prof. Lolowa Al Marzooqi

Associate Vice Provost, Office of Undergraduate Education, NYU Abu Dhabi

Prof. Mohamed Dhiaf

President, Liwa University

Panel A

Do rankings affect university strategy? Looking for solutions, avoiding mishaps

Overview: University leaders from different parts of the world will discuss how to navigate rankings challenges in designing a strategy for their university. Some universities have expressed their disapproval of rankings, others look for new approaches to evaluation of research... There will be an opportunity to vent out different opinions.

SDG Alignment: This panel aligns with several key Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 – Quality Education, by fostering discussions on how universities can maintain high standards of teaching and research without becoming overly dependent on external ranking systems. It also supports SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, as it encourages institutions to explore innovative approaches to institutional assessment, performance measurement, and strategic planning. Additionally, SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals is reflected in the call for global dialogue and collaboration to create more inclusive, transparent, and context-sensitive evaluation frameworks that better serve the diverse missions of higher education institutions.

Objectives: The objective of this panel is to examine the complex relationship between global university rankings and institutional strategy. It aims to explore how different universities navigate the opportunities and challenges rankings present, share insights into the risks of becoming overly rankings-driven, and discuss alternative approaches to evaluating academic quality, research impact, and institutional success. The session encourages candid exchange, critical reflection, and collective problem-solving to help university leaders shape strategies that align with their core values while remaining competitive and relevant in a global academic landscape.

Moderator

Mr. Alex Usher

President of Higher Education Strategy Associates (Canada)

Mr. Nick Davis

President, Middle East & Africa, Times Higher Education (THE)

Prof. Dr. Anas Ratib Alsoud

Executive Director, Association of Arab Universities

Prof. Piotr Stepnowski

Rector University of Gdansk

Prof. Komiljon Karimov

Rector Westminster International University in Tashkent

Prof. Ulviyya Abbasova

Advisor to the rector on rankings

Dr. Bibi Alajmi

Assistant Vice President for Planning at Kuwait University

ICASF Panel

The Green Revolution 2.0: Strategic Collaborative Pathways Between Industry, Academia, and Government for Global Sustainability

Overview: This panel will discuss how strategic collaborations between industry, academia, and government can drive the next phase of the Green Revolution, fostering scalable solutions for global sustainability. The conversation will highlight the strengths of each sector and how they can work together to innovate green technologies and policies.

SDG Alignment: The panel ties into SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by addressing how partnerships can create green jobs and sustainable economic growth. It also aligns with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), focusing on the role of innovation in creating sustainable industries, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), as the collaboration between industry, academia, and government is essential for achieving global sustainability objectives.

Objectives: This panel aims to explore how effective collaborations between academia, industry, and government can accelerate innovation and scale up sustainable solutions. It will identify the opportunities for these sectors to work together in addressing environmental and social challenges, as well as highlight the roles each sector must play to drive global sustainable development and ensure long-term environmental impact.

Moderator

Prof. Barry O’Mahony

Provost, Abu Dhabi University

Dr. Sara Al Dallal

President, Emirates Health Economics Society at Emirates Medical Association, UAE

Dr. Rana Sawaya Zeitounie

President of the University College of Bahrain (UCB)

Mr. Fady Shaher El Borno

Executive Director, The Department of Municipalities and Transport

Prof. Benjamin P. Horton

Dean, School of Energy and Environment, Chair Professor, Earth Science, City University of Hong Kong

Ms. Sara Shaw

CEO of Majra Fund

Ms. Raquel Noboa

Founder of Fifty Shades Greener

Ms. Raquel Noboa

Founder of Fifty Shades Greener

Dr. Susanna Karakhanyan

Higher Education Regulation & Licensing Director, Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, UAE

H.E. Dr. Maria Al Qassim

Assistant Undersecretary, Ministry of Economy

ICASF Panel

Artificial Intelligence and Society: Shaping a Sustainable Future Through Innovation, Challenges, and Opportunities

Overview: This discussion will explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can drive sustainable innovation, tackle global challenges, and shape a better future for society. The panel will also address the ethical considerations, challenges, and opportunities presented by AI in sustainability efforts.

SDG Alignment: This panel aligns with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), as AI is central to driving technological innovation. It also supports SDG 13 (Climate Action) by addressing how AI can be leveraged to develop solutions for sustainability challenges. Additionally, it connects to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), as the ethical implications of AI in shaping sustainable futures need to be carefully managed for equitable development.

Objectives: The objective of this panel is to examine how AI can contribute to solving global sustainability challenges by enabling more efficient and innovative solutions. The discussion will also delve into the ethical considerations and societal impacts of AI technologies in sustainability initiatives. Furthermore, it will identify opportunities and risks in using AI to shape a sustainable and equitable future for all.

Prof. Thenkurussi Kesavadas

Vice President for Research & Economic Development at the University at Albany, State University of New York

H.E. Natalia Al Mansour

Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Abu Dhabi

Mr. Fady Shaher El Borno

Executive Director, The Department of Municipalities and Transport

Dr. Hamad Odhabi

Vice Chancellor for AI and Operational Excellence, Abu Dhabi University

Prof. Wen Jung Li

Chair Professor, Dept. of Mechanical Eng. Vice-President (Talent and International Strategy), City University of Hong Kong

Prof. Jian Zhang

Deputy Secretary General of GAUC, and Vice Dean of the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Tsinghua University

Panel B

Meet the Global and Regional Rankers – Gain Insight into Their Strategic Priorities

Overview: Regardless their shortcomings, rankings have become an important part of the higher education landscape. Authors of global and regional university rankings will present their rankings characteristics and directions. There will be time for “difficult” questions from the audience.

SDG Alignment: This panel aligns with SDG 4 (Quality Education) by promoting transparency in academic evaluation, SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) through discussion on innovative ranking methodologies, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by fostering dialogue between universities and ranking bodies.

Objectives: Offer universities direct insight into the methodologies, metrics, and strategic goals behind global and regional ranking systems. It aims to clarify how rankings are evolving, what data matters most, and how institutions can align their strategies accordingly. By engaging ranking authors in open dialogue—including addressing tough questions—the session empowers university leaders to make informed decisions, strengthen their positioning, and contribute to shaping more balanced and meaningful evaluation frameworks.

Moderator

Waldemar Siwiński

President, IREG Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence

Prof. Ghassan Aouad

Chancellor, Abu Dhabi University

Mr. Ben Sowter

Vice President Quacquarelli Symonds (QS)

Ms. Xue Yang

Senior Consultant, Shanghai Ranking Consultancy

Mr. Isidro F. Aguillo

Head of Cybermetric Lab Scimago Group, Webometrics

ICASF Panel

How Green Jobs, Circular Economy, and Innovative Business Models Enhance Employability: A Critical Approach

Overview: This discussion will critically examine how green jobs, circular economy models, and innovative business practices are reshaping the job market and enhancing employability. It will explore the role of sustainable business models and green jobs in addressing both economic and environmental challenges.

SDG Alignment: This panel supports SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), as it focuses on the creation of sustainable jobs and economic growth opportunities. It also promotes SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), by highlighting the importance of circular economy models, and SDG 13 (Climate Action), as green jobs and business innovations play a key role in addressing climate-related challenges.

Objectives: The objective of this panel is to explore how green jobs and circular economy principles are contributing to sustainable employment and economic growth. The discussion will assess how businesses can incorporate sustainability into their models to drive economic and environmental benefits. Furthermore, it will focus on the skills and competencies required for individuals to thrive in a green economy, ensuring that employability is enhanced through sustainability-driven industries.

Moderator

Prof. Jean-Paul Arnaout

Dean College of Business, Abu Dhabi University

Mr. Fardin Sanai

Vice President of University Advancement, University at Albany

Mr. Ihsan Zakri

Vice President, EMEA Growth and Engagement, AACSB

Mr. Amer Al Ahbabi

Executive Board Member, Vertix Auditing, Global Board of Directors, IMA

Dr. Lorie Hamelin

Chair Professor in Sustainable Transition towards low fossil carbon economies Federal, University of Toulouse

Dr. Chakib Farhat

Dean of Student Affairs, Abu Dhabi University

Dr. Chris Desai

Global Director, Uocean

6:00 – 8:00 PM Conference Gala Dinner

11 December 2025 (Thursday)

Venue: Emirates Palace Hotel

Panel C

Reimagining Rankings – Supporting a University’s Place and Direction with a Focus on Sustainability and Innovation

Overview: The session is aimed primarily at university officers responsible for reading and interpreting rankings, collecting data and answering surveys or questionnaires sent Meet the Rankers – Global and Regional. Learn what are they plotting? Find out by ranking organizations. Experts with long career will share their professional experience in advising university leadership on how rankings help define current university position and set goals for strategic development.

SDG Alignment: This session strongly aligns with SDG 4 – Quality Education by encouraging universities to use rankings as a tool to enhance institutional effectiveness and educational quality. It also supports SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, as it explores how innovative ranking metrics can reflect a university’s research, sustainability efforts, and societal impact. Furthermore, it promotes SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals, by fostering collaboration between ranking agencies and institutions to co-create transparent, inclusive, and forward-looking frameworks for assessing academic performance and impact.

Objectives: The objective of this panel is to equip university officers and strategists with a deeper understanding of how to engage with rankings more effectively and purposefully. Through insights from ranking organizations and seasoned advisors, the session will highlight how rankings can serve not only as a benchmarking tool but also as a guide for strategic development—particularly in advancing sustainability and innovation. It aims to shift the perception of rankings from a competitive pressure point to a strategic asset that supports a university’s mission, direction, and global standing.

Moderator

Prof. György Fábri

Professor at Social Communication Research Group, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Budapest

Dr. Narimane Hadj Hamou

Founder and CEO, CLICKS

Dr. M'hamed El Aisati

Vice President Analytics & Data Services Elsevier

Dr. Habib Fardoun

Excellence Consulting for Education Quacquarelli Symonds (QS)

Ms. Birte Hornemann

Director, Quality Assurance and Ranking Aalborg University

Mr. Ramy Hassanien

Vice President and Regional Director – Middle East, Africa & Central Asia at Emerald Group Publishing

Prof. Bassam Alameddin

President of Gulf University of Science and Technology

ICASF Panel

Empowering Women in Sustainability: Leading Innovation at the Intersection of Technology, Society, and Nature

Overview: This panel will focus on the crucial role women play in leading sustainability initiatives at the intersection of technology, society, and nature. It will celebrate women leaders and discuss the challenges and opportunities they encounter while driving sustainability in various sectors.

SDG Alignment: The discussion aligns with SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by empowering women in leadership roles within sustainability. It also supports SDG 10 (Reduced Inequality), as it highlights the need for greater inclusion of women in innovation and decision-making processes. Additionally, it ties into SDG 13 (Climate Action), recognizing the critical role women play in addressing environmental challenges through innovative leadership.

Objectives: This panel aims to showcase the significant contributions of women in sustainability and highlight the challenges they face in leading innovation at the intersection of technology and nature. It will discuss the barriers and enablers for empowering women in sustainability, and explore policies and practices that can support gender equality in the green economy, helping to create a more inclusive and diverse approach to innovation in sustainability.

Moderator