The Arabian Gulf University (AGU) and the Regional Centre for Quality and Excellence in Education (RCQE UNESCO) announced, during a joint press conference held today, Sunday, at the University’s headquarters in Manama, the details of the International Forum for the Development of University Education in Arab States in Light of Future Skills and Professions, scheduled to be held on December 2–3, 2025.

His Excellency Dr Saad bin Saud Al Fuhaid, President of the Arabian Gulf University (AGU), stated: "The University is proud to host this international event, which brings together ministers, university leaders, international organisations, and global experts to design a practical roadmap to drive university education in Arab countries toward a more innovative and sustainable future."

He added that the forum reflects the objectives of the University, which was established to serve strategic issues for the future of the Arab Gulf states, and confirms the Kingdom of Bahrain's regional role in leading pioneering educational projects.

The forum will commence its activities with a high-level ministerial session featuring the participation of Ministers of Higher Education from several Arab countries to discuss the future of Arab university education. 

This will be followed by a session for directors of international and regional organisations titled "The Role of Regional Organisations in Developing University Education," with the participation of the Association of Arab Universities, the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States (ABEGS), the UNESCO Office for the Gulf States and Yemen, and the UNESCO Institute for Early Childhood Development.

The forum brings together an elite group of speakers, alongside international experts, university presidents, scientists, and researchers, to review international and regional experiences in developing university programs and future skills.

For his part, His Excellency Dr Abdulrahman bin Ibrahim Al Medaires, Director General of the Regional Centre for Quality and Excellence in Education (RCQE UNESCO), affirmed that the forum aims to develop an Arab roadmap to activate the ministerially approved "Reference Framework Document for Developing University Education Programmes in Arab Countries in Light of Future Skills and Professions." 

This aims to align university programmes with labour market needs, address the gap between education outcomes and future skills, and achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

The document is based on a comparative analytical study of the reality of university programmes in Arab countries versus leading international experiences. It proposes an integrated framework consisting of five components: drivers of future professions, fields of future professions, future skills, policies and mechanisms for university development, and modern academic programme formats. It also includes a procedural guide to activate these strategies through enhancing competitiveness, supporting private university education, integrating future skills, lifelong learning, internationalising university education, and recognising prior learning experiences.

The forum aims to enhance dialogue, coordination, and the exchange of expertise among Arab universities, and to review successful global and regional models for developing university programmes, ensuring the preparation of youth who possess the skills required for the future.

The Organising Committee extended its highest expressions of thanks to Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries for their continuous support for the journey of developing university education, their deep belief in the importance of investing in knowledge and innovation, and their keenness to enhance Arab integration in the field of higher education. 

The committee affirmed that the forum represents one of the most prominent international educational events of 2025, and that the AGU and the UNESCO Regional Centre seek to make it a launching point for a comprehensive Arab transformation in university education.