Rabat, Morocco, June 23, 2025 — Prof. Dr. Ahmed Shuja Syed, President of the International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI), represented the university as an expert panelist at the 6th Vice Chancellors’ Forum, held in Rabat, Morocco. The event brought together over 200 Rectors, Vice Chancellors, and Presidents from across the Islamic world for a focused dialogue on higher education and institutional leadership.
The Forum was hosted by Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Rector of IIUI and Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, in collaboration with ICESCO. Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed also served as the convener of the panel titled “The Role of Higher Education Leadership in Building a Modern and Productive University”, held in the Main Auditorium (Khaima Alkhair). The proceedings were extensively covered by the media teams of HEC and ICESCO and received broad attention across Pakistani news channels.
In his contribution, Prof. Dr. Shuja emphasized that shaping a modern and productive university requires strong and visionary leadership that can align institutional priorities with national aspirations and global trends. He spoke about the central role of digital transformation, academic reforms, and staff capacity building in achieving institutional advancement. Drawing on examples from IIUI, he highlighted efforts to foster innovation across teaching and research platforms, nurture a culture of accountability and academic freedom, and pursue international collaborations that enable institutions to respond effectively to global challenges.
The panel was a pivotal segment of the 6th VC Forum, which focused on critical priorities for higher education across the Islamic world, including advances in digital and strategic innovation, institutional productivity and governance, climate and sustainability, and talent development. The Forum also emphasized aligning institutional policies with national and global development agendas, strengthening collaborative platforms for research and teaching, and nurturing academic staff growth and scholar mobility.
The session concluded with an open dialogue between panelists and attending Vice Chancellors, addressing ways to navigate institutional change, optimize resources, and build sustainable, resilient universities.