Professor Dr. Hassan Shakir Majdi, President of Al-Mustaqbal University, participated in the IAU-EAIE Internationalisation Leadership Dialogue, held on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at The Sir Jim McDonald Technology and Innovation Centre at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, United Kingdom, with the participation of a distinguished group of presidents and senior leaders of higher education institutions from around the world. The participation came at the invitation of the International Association of Universities (IAU) and the European Association for International Education (EAIE), with the aim of strengthening opportunities for international academic cooperation, exchanging strategic expertise and perspectives among higher education leaders, and discussing the future of internationalisation in higher education amid current global challenges and transformations. The dialogue began with welcoming remarks from the host institution, the University of Strathclyde, followed by addresses from Dr. Hilligje van’t Land, Secretary General of the International Association of Universities (IAU), and Mr. Mervyn Barker, Executive Director of the European Association for International Education (EAIE). The event featured a keynote presentation entitled “Leading Internationalisation in Turbulent Times,” delivered by Sir Anton Muscatelli, President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. The presentation addressed a number of strategic themes related to leading higher education institutions and managing global challenges. The keynote highlighted the VUCA Prime leadership model and approaches to managing higher education institutions in rapidly changing and uncertain environments, with a focus on Vision, Understanding, Clarity, and Agility. It also presented successful models and strategies for building equitable and sustainable partnerships among universities. The dialogue further explored internationalisation markets and examined recent data and statistics on global trends in international student mobility and recruitment, providing higher education institutions with insights to develop strategies aligned with the rapidly changing international education landscape. During his participation, the President of Al-Mustaqbal University took part in a series of dialogue sessions and roundtable discussions addressing the future of academic and research partnerships, mechanisms for selecting international partners, joint academic programmes, research collaboration, and strengthening the principle of reciprocity in international higher education partnerships. The sessions also explored ways to reimagine internationalisation, including its integration into curricula, the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in learning and academic mobility, and virtual exchange as a modern and sustainable approach to strengthening international academic cooperation and engagement. The participation also included a number of side meetings between the President of Al-Mustaqbal University and Dr. Hilligje van’t Land, Secretary General of the International Association of Universities. During the meeting, she was presented with a commemorative gift representing Iraq’s rich heritage and civilisation. The discussions also addressed prospects for future academic and research partnerships, in addition to meetings with leaders and representatives of participating higher education institutions. The participation of the President of Al-Mustaqbal University in this international dialogue reflects the university’s continued efforts to develop its strategic plans, keep pace with global developments in higher education management and academic internationalisation, and expand its network of international relationships and partnerships, thereby strengthening its academic and research presence at the global level. Al-Mustaqbal University – the first university in Iraq.
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