His Excellency Dr Saad bin Saud Al Fuhaid, President of the Arabian Gulf University (AGU), participated in the 28th Meeting of the Committee of Presidents and Directors of Universities and Higher Education Institutions in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, held at Al Jouf University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The meeting brought together Their Excellencies and distinguished leaders of Gulf universities, with the participation of the GCC General Secretariat.

The meeting discussed a range of vital topics considered a priority for the advancement of higher education across the GCC. Attendees reviewed the outcomes and recommendations of the 25th Meeting of the GCC Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research and followed up on the implementation of resolutions adopted at the 27th Meeting of the Committee of University Presidents and Directors. Updates were also presented regarding the Academic Qualification Evaluation and Equivalency Guide, reflecting greater policy alignment among GCC education systems. Additionally, the efforts of the Future Skills Task Force were reviewed, focusing on developing training programmes that anticipate the skills required for the future job market.

Participants commended the outcomes of the Gulf Cybersecurity Forum, hosted by Qatar in January, and underscored the importance of continuing such initiatives. It was decided that the next Gulf Cybersecurity Forum will be hosted by the University of Tabuk in 2026, with emphasis on strengthening research and academic collaboration in the fields of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, and developing specialised curricula and training programmes in these areas.

The Committee also discussed mechanisms to activate international cooperation aimed at exchanging best practices, building strategic partnerships and reviewing progress in implementing the Academic Mobility Enhancement Initiative for students and faculty members.

Furthermore, the meeting highlighted the need to develop academic programmes in specialised fields aligned with current and future labour market demands. The technical team, comprising representatives from several GCC universities, presented key priority disciplines, most notably cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data science, and reaffirmed the commitment to advancing the GCC Information Database (Jisr) initiative.

Coinciding with the meeting, a scientific symposium titled “University Differentiation: Realities and Future Perspectives” was held, exploring the future transformations of higher education, the role of institutional distinction in global rankings and the importance of innovation and digital transformation in enhancing the standing of GCC universities.

At the conclusion of the meeting, a series of recommendations were adopted to strengthen GCC integration in higher education and scientific research, which will be presented to the 28th Meeting of the Committee of Their Excellencies the Presidents and Directors of Universities and Higher Education Institutions in the GCC, scheduled for Tuesday (October 21, 2025), at Al Jouf University.

Several participating GCC university representatives expressed their sincere appreciation to Al Jouf University for its outstanding hospitality and high-level organisation, commending the warm welcome extended by Professor Dr Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Shayea, President of Al Jouf University, which reflected the region’s deep-rooted values of generosity and excellence, and the university’s ongoing commitment to the success of GCC-hosted events.