The 50th International Conference in Erbil Discusses the Problem of Educational Curricula in the Digital Age, Sponsored by the International Association of Universities

The 50th International Conference: The Problem of Educational Curricula in the Digital Age: Prospects and Challenges, Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Under the patronage of the President of the International Union of Universities, Professor Muhammad Khair Al-Ghabani, the Lebanese Charitable Association for Educational and Cultural Renewal organized an integrated international scientific conference entitled: “The Problem of Educational Curricula in the World in the Digital Age” in person at the “Juhayna” Hotel in Erbil and via the “Zoom” application on August 2 and 3, 2024.

After welcoming the attendees, the President of the Lebanese Association for Educational and Cultural Renewal, Acting President of the Ru’ya Foundation for Documentation, Strategic and Future Studies, Dr. Hawzin Omar, Secretary of the Higher Education Council at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Dr. Horreya Baz, President of the Islamic University in Lebanon, His Excellency Professor Hassan Al-Laqis, Advisor to the President of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Assistant Professor Dr. Abdul Razzaq Othman Mustafa Nawa, President of the Educational Center for Research and Development, Professor Hiam Ishaq, and President of the International Union of Universities, Professor Muhammad Khair Al-Ghabani, delivered speeches in which they emphasized “the importance of the topic presented, especially with its connection to the digital age in order to develop educational, social and cultural fields.”

The speeches also stressed “the challenges of holding this conference, despite all the circumstances surrounding us, given the importance of the topic in developing the educational community, in light of the digital developments that the world is witnessing.”

During the opening session, representatives of the institutions stressed the effective role of educational curricula in developing educational fields as well as research practices, by approaching the topic raised in light of the problem of the digital age and linking curricula to innovation and artificial intelligence with the aim of creating a thinking and innovative citizen. The problem of curricula in light of the digital age is the main driver of the research process through drawing up the educational plan and teaching practices.

The lecturers during the opening session included the Head of the Educational Center for Research and Development, Professor Hiam Ishaq, the Secretary General of Catholic Schools in Lebanon, Father Dr. Youssef Nasr, the Delegate of the President of Saint Joseph University in Beirut for Continuing Education, Professor Fadi Al-Hajj, the Representative of the Minister of Youth and Sports - Lebanon, Dr. Naji Hammoud, the Director of the Lebanese Institute for the Preparation of Educators at Saint Joseph University in Beirut, Mr. Rok Al-Ashi, the Local Dean of the Computer Technology Department at the Arab Open University, Dr. Ahmad Mikati, the Official in Charge of the Digital Transformation Vision of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global, Mr. Alaa Al-Tarani, and the Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Quality Assurance at Yarmouk University in Jordan, Dr. Mamoun Al-Shteiwi.

The aforementioned conference included several partner entities, including: the Educational Center for Research and Development - Lebanon, Ru’ya Foundation for Documentation, Strategic and Future Studies - Erbil, the Ministry of Youth and Sports - Lebanon, the Iraqi Ministry of Education, the Directorate of Education in Najaf, the Islamic University in Lebanon, the Lebanese Institute for the Preparation of Educators at Saint Joseph University in Beirut, the Arab Open University in Lebanon, Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global Foundation, the General Secretariat of Catholic Schools in Lebanon, the French Institute for Evaluation Education in France, Rima Younes Publishing and Distribution House, Mariam Satellite TV, Intermag Media Website, and other international partner entities.

About 38 researchers from different countries participated in the conference, including: Lebanon, Iraq, Kurdistan Region, France, Morocco, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Sudan and Guinea.

The conference also aimed to:

- Shedding light on the Arab and international reality regarding the problem of educational curricula in the digital age.

- Delve into the challenges facing the implementation of innovative educational curricula,

- Exchange of experiences in educational, social and cultural fields in light of educational curricula in the digital age.

- Developing effective scientific solutions to build a citizen who keeps pace with development and innovation.

The conference featured various scientific research that addressed the problem of educational curricula and their development in colleges and schools, noting that “the conference came out with practical and realistic recommendations that will be circulated later, and each institution will have a symposium on the topic that was raised, in addition to launching the Nawa project on educational curricula in the Middle East.”

The conference was accompanied by cultural activities, including the signing of the book “Strategic Plans for the Development of Universities in the Kurdistan Region” published by the International Association of Universities by Dr. Abdul Razzaq Othman Mustafa Nawa, the book “Differentiated Education from Concept to Application” by Dr. Fadia Hussein, and stories from real life by Ms. Rima Younis, Dr. Michel Sofia, and Professor Maroun Khayat.

The conference was attended by about 80 people at the venue and was broadcast live on Facebook pages, in addition to educational and cultural figures and representatives of several institutions, universities and civil society.