AI-Driven Digital Transformation: Towards Smarter Higher Education Institutions
The Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, in collaboration with the European Union, convened an international workshop bringing together experts from Bulgaria, Portugal, Turkey, Morocco, and Egypt to advance dialogue on AI-driven digital transformation in higher education.
Held at the Academy’s headquarters in Abu Qir, the event marked the launch of an international scientific programme aimed at strengthening the capacities of higher education institutions through smart digital transformation strategies. The workshop, titled “AI-Driven Digital Transformation: Towards Smarter Higher Education Institutions,” was organized under the auspices of the European Union.
The initiative is part of the STUDIES-DIG Project within the Horizon Europe Programme, which seeks to develop a comprehensive roadmap for integrating artificial intelligence into academic and administrative systems.
The workshop was opened in the presence of Dr. Alaa Abdul Bari, Vice President of the Academy for Higher Studies and Scientific Research.
The event was held by Professor Dr. Ahmed Khalifa Mehna, Project Coordinator and Assistant Dean of Students Affairs at the Academy, with a presentation on the role of the Academy pioneer in international partnerships and the deployment of technology for the scientific research service and the Academy’s interest in digital transformation and artificial intelligence.
The program includes 4 keynote sessions that addressed key issues; Dr. Mahmoud Bushr, Director of the Secured Certificate Center, reviewed the resilience of universities in the face of digital transformation challenges, while Dr. Mariana Kovacheva from UNWE, Bulgaria, discussed “The role of AI in personal learning”.
From the legislative side, Dr. Jivko Draganov presented an insight into the policies of using artificial intelligence in scientific research, while Dr. Zornitza Mladenova, D.Sc., linked the digitalization of education and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The events concluded with an expanded panel conducted by Eng. Mohamed Menji, and with the participation of Dr. Osama Ismail, Advisor to the President of the Academy of Information, Dr. Ayman Adel, Dean of the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology at the Academy, Dr. Polia Katsamunska, Professor at the University of National and World Economy (UNWE), Bulgaria, and Dr. Jivko Draganov, Professor at UNWE. Bulgaria, Dr. David Feraz – Professor at ISCTE University, Portugal, and Dr. Morad Savash – NOVARGE Company, Turkey.
The discussion fostered a dynamic exchange among international experts, focusing on both the opportunities and challenges of integrating artificial intelligence into higher education systems and outlining practical pathways for implementation.
This initiative forms part of a broader series of activities under the STUDIES-DIG project, funded by the European Union and led by a dedicated team from the Academy, including Ahmed Khalifa Mehna, Mahmoud Bushr, and Mohamed Menji. The project aims to strengthen collaboration between Mediterranean countries and the European Union, enhance higher education outcomes, and align institutional development with the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution – placing people at the center of digital transformation.
