ANQAHE Forum Draws More Than 500 Higher Education Experts to Doha

The official opening of the Arab Network for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ANQAHE) Forum 2026 brought more than 500 participants, experts, decision-makers and representatives of regional and international accreditation bodies and academic institutions to Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel. Held under the patronage and in the presence of HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al-Khater, Minister of Education and Higher Education, the forum focused on exploring opportunities in the age of artificial intelligence and digital transformation. It was jointly organised by the National Committee for Qualifications and Academic Accreditation and ANQAHE.

In her keynote address, HE Al-Khater presented the concept of ihsan, or excellence in conduct, as a broad foundation for quality within workplace culture and institutional heritage. She said quality should not be treated merely as an administrative procedure conducted after work is completed, but as an enduring characteristic, a culture developed over time and a responsibility strengthened through honest review.

The Minister said education had reached a pivotal moment as the first university generation educated in the era of generative artificial intelligence and large language models prepares to graduate. She called for a decisive shift from measuring procedural compliance to assessing education’s actual effect on students and society. She also noted that more than half of Qatar’s higher education institutions were engaged in accreditation processes and highlighted Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s ranking of 126th globally and first in the Arab world in the latest Times Higher Education ranking.

Dr. Mazen Hasna, Chairman of the National Committee for Qualifications and Academic Accreditation, reviewed Doha’s preparations to host the forum and the support provided by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. He explained that the forum’s logo was inspired by the desert rose, whose distinctive structure develops over time in a way that reflects the gradual formation of a strong institutional quality culture while respecting the identity of each educational institution. He said organisers received 86 research papers, of which 56 were accepted, while four specialised workshops were selected from 12 proposals.

Dr. Jokha bint Abdullah Al Shukaili, President of ANQAHE, said the central question was not whether artificial intelligence should be accepted or rejected, but how it could be used effectively to support learning without replacing human thought. She called for combining human intelligence with modern technology to redesign authentic assessment methods that measure analytical, critical and creative skills. She also said accreditation bodies should become strategic partners that assess the added value of education and its tangible impact on society.

The forum honoured Prof. Nadia Badrawi, Honorary President of ANQAHE, in recognition of her foundational contributions to advancing quality assurance across the Arab world. Panel discussions subsequently examined the transition from formal compliance to measuring actual impact, the promotion of human flourishing in university environments and the development of resilient quality systems capable of responding to rapid technological change and evolving labour-market requirements.

The event concluded with the issuance of the Doha Forum Recommendations. The recommendations were presented as a strategic framework and unified working document for developing quality standards, strengthening academic integrity and establishing flexible, sustainable guidance for the future of higher education. They also aim to advance the sector across the Arab region and strengthen its global competitiveness.

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