Schedule: The 11th Regional Forum

Schedule: The 11th Regional Forum

Time Activity
8.30-9.15 Registration and coffee
9.15-9.30 Conference opening: Professor Jeremy Williams

Welcome speech: Professor Paul Hopkinson, Dean of the College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Zayed University
9.30-10.00 Keynote speaker: Dr Aurélien Decamps, Managing Director and Co-Founder at Sulitest, On TASK: A robust measurement tool to determine individual knowledge of sustainability
10.00-10.30 Session 1: Industry-Academia Collaboration and Partnership

Session lead: Joëlle Jammal, Executive Director at Global Compact Network, UAE

  • What does business and industry need?
  • Roundtable discussions and networking sessions (led by UNGC) aimed at fostering collaboration, partnership, and knowledge exchange between industry and academia to advance sustainability literacy in the Middle East.
10.30-11.00 Session 2: Integrating Sustainability into the Curriculum 

Session lead: TBA

  • Panel discussion featuring representatives from universities across the Middle East sharing successful strategies and initiatives for integrating sustainability into higher education programs. 
  • Case studies from different universities in the ME: best practices and innovative solutions that have the potential for significant societal impact in the Middle East region.
11.00-11.15 Morning coffee
11.15-11.45 Session 3: Student Projects and Initiatives on Sustainability

Session leads: Dr Miroslav Mateev and PGS

Panel discussion featuring students’ projects and initiatives related to sustainability principles, showcasing their knowledge, skills, and contributions towards addressing sustainability challenges in the Middle East.
11.45-12.15 Session 4: Circular Economy Simulation: Fashion Forward

Session lead: Dr Tim Rogmans

In this interactive session, participants manage the design, manufacturing, and retail activities of a fast fashion company for five years with the aim of improving the company’s circularity performance, reducing waste, and optimizing financial performance.
12.15-13.15 Lunch
13.15-13.45 Keynote speaker: Dr Isabel Rimanoczy, Convener PRME Working Group on the Sustainability Mindset The 12 Sustainability Mindset Principles
13.45-14.15 Session 5: The Business Schools for Climate Leadership (BS4CL) COP28 Pledge

Session leads: Dr Nisa Vinodkumar and Mr David May

  • Report on the rollout of the Carbon Literacy Training (CLT) program customized for the Middle East, and certified by the Carbon Literacy Project (CLP), Manchester, England.
14.15-14.45 Session 6: Sustainability-focused Teaching Case Studies on the Middle East, developed in the Middle East

Session leads: Mrs Nada Naufal and Dr Hani Kamel

  • Updates on professional development opportunities and training programs for educators.
  • Examples of cases developed, and in the process of development.
14.45-15.00 Afternoon tea
15.30-16.00 Session 7: Society and Business Review (SBR) Special Issue

Session lead: Dr Sandra Baroudi

A moderated panel discussion on ‘pre-prints’ to be published in a special issue of Society and Business Review in March 2025, on ‘Promoting Sustainable Impact: Perspectives from the Middle East on UNGC and PRME’. By focusing on the principles and initiatives of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), this special issue aims to explore the unique challenges, opportunities, and perspectives shaping sustainable impact in the region.
16.00-16.30 Session 8: Management & Sustainability: An Arab Review (MSAR) Special Issue

Session lead: Professor Jeremy Williams

A moderated panel discussion on extended abstracts under consideration for a special issue of Management & Sustainability: An Arab Review Review in 2025, on innovative practice in sustainability management education in the Middle East.
16.30-16.45 Closing remarks: Dr Sharif As-Saber