Rabat: Prof. Dr. Ahmed Shuja Syed, President of the International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI), served as an expert panelist at the 6th Vice Chancellors’ Forum in Rabat, Morocco. The event saw participation from over 200 educational leaders from across the Islamic world, focusing on higher education and leadership.

The Forum, hosted by Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Rector of IIUI and Chairman of Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC), was held in collaboration with ICESCO. Prof. Dr. Ahmed also led a panel on “The Role of Higher Education Leadership in Building a Modern and Productive University” in the Main Auditorium, Khaima Alkhair. The event was well-covered by HEC and ICESCO media, gaining significant attention from Pakistani news outlets.

Prof. Dr. Shuja addressed the need for strong leadership in modernizing universities. He stressed the alignment of institutional goals with national and global trends, focusing on digital transformation, academic reforms, and staff capacity building. He shared IIUI’s initiatives in fostering innovation, promoting accountability, and enhancing international collaborations to tackle global challenges.

The panel was a key part of the Forum, which addressed priorities in digital innovation, governance, sustainability, and talent development. Discussions also highlighted the importance of aligning institutional policies with broader development agendas and strengthening research and teaching collaborations.

The session concluded with an open dialogue, where panelists and attending Vice Chancellors discussed strategies for managing institutional change, optimizing resources, and building resilient universities.