Regional consensus on key educational issues gained as 31st ARAB-ACRAO Conference draws to successful close

Educators, university personnel, experts and high-ranking officials from across the Arab region agreed on various strategies to address key issues affecting local and regional educational systems during the 31^st Conference of the Arab Association of Registrars and Admissions Officers in Arab Universities (ARAB-ACRAO) which drew to a close yesterday (Wednesday, April 6, 2011). The conference was organised under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the UAE Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. 

Running from April 4 to 6, 2011 under the theme ‘Enrollment and Registration: Quality and Accreditation Standards,’ the annual forum gathered researchers from around 30 Arab universities as well as several distinguished education sector figures, including Prof. Salwa El Gharib, Secretary General, Supreme Council of Universities in Egypt; H.E. Mousaed Abdul-Karim al-Dakhil Secretary General of the Arab Association of Registrars & Admissions Officers in Arab Universities; Dr. Hamad Bin Khalfan Bin Mohamed Al Harethi, Deputy Academic Programs Manager of the Sultanate of Oman’s Ministry of Higher Education; Dr. Gamal Ibrahim, Al Quds Open University, Palestine; Khaled Abdul-Wahab Hilal Hamayda, Zarqa University, Jordan, among others. 

Key recommendations were presented during the closing day of the conference, which also included a recreational tour of Dubai for participants. Abu Dhabi-based ALHOSN University was commended for its successful hosting of the four-day event. It was also revealed that the 32^nd ARAB-ACRAO conference will be held in Lebanon and will be hosted the American University of Science and Technology in Lebanon. Dr. Nabeel Haider, Provost of the American University of Science and Technology in Lebanon was named as the next chair. 

“The past days provided an exceptional venue for the region’s academic services practitioners and education officials to consolidate their experiences and expertise and come up with more effective enrollment and registration strategies. It affirmed ARAB-ACRAO’s strong influence in directing the growth of the region’s educational systems and proved the eagerness of Arab educational institutions to work collaboratively to address the sector’s most pressing issues. The American University of Science and Technology in Lebanon is honored to host the 32^nd ARAB-ACRAO next year,” said Dr. Nabeel Haider 

The 2011 ARAB-ACRAO Conference focused on expected competencies for college students, best practices in admission, effective approaches against absenteeism and failure, and the role of universities in shaping the knowledge of young learners. 

Since its inception in 1976, the ARAB-ACRAO conference has been a major platform for sharing knowledge and best practices on the region’s educational systems. The Arab Association of Registrars and Admissions Officers in Arab Universities is a professional, educational and volunteer non-profit organization committed to enhancing university acceptance and registration standards across the Arab region. 

ALHOSN University, the host of this year’s conference, offers 11 undergraduate and 7 graduate programs under the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the Faculty of Business, and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. The university was founded by the Abu Dhabi Holding Company in 2005 in response to the growing local demand for high-quality, value-based education and is committed to its motto of ‘global knowledge with local vision.’