Shaping Tomorrow’s Education Today

Inside AUB Online’s Inaugural Symposium

2024 Issue No. 2

Over the span of three days, thought leaders, innovators, and educators from around the globe came together to discuss the present and future of online education and the tremendous implications of this rapid digital transformation for higher learning.

From February 22 to 24, 2024, AUB Online held its inaugural symposium, “Trends and Transformations in Higher Education,” including prominent figures from McKinsey & Co., TikTok, Meta, GroupM | Mindshare, KPMG, Ogilvy, the University of California-Berkeley, Edelsy Consultancy, and elsewhere.

The symposium addressed key themes such as the strategic role of product management in higher education, the critical mission of instructional designers as change agents, and the profound impact of social media trends on the academic landscape. One session looked at the potential for artificial intelligence technologies to personalize learning journeys and leverage strategic data utilization, making learning more interactive, engaging, and tailored to individual student needs. Another explored higher education trends on platforms like TikTok and highlighted the importance of adapting to the preferences of a new generation of learners.

Amid these discussions, Dr. Yousif Asfour, chief innovation and transformation officer at AUB, noted, “Digital transformation entails coordinated shifts in our everyday culture, processes, and technology to enable new educational and operational models.”

Other sessions emphasized the significance of aligning educational innovation with the changing societal landscape, ensuring that the delivery of education remains relevant and responsive to the broader expectations of society. Notably, Shajia Sarfraz and Stephen Hall from McKinsey & Co. provided attendees with invaluable insights into the sector’s challenges and opportunities, illuminating the necessary skills and knowledge for the future workforce and how their evolving trends impact and reshape higher education.

President Fadlo R. Khuri detailed the vision propelling the university’s strides into the digital age. “We believe AUB Online is such a critical component for our university. This is more relevant than ever. It’s really about enfranchising the disenfranchised learner, and that’s really the driving force behind why we persuaded Dr. Yousif Asfour and Patrick Fitzgerald to get their feet wet in this area” Khuri elaborated.

In an era where the only constant is change, AUB Online’s inaugural symposium stands as a testament to the university’s forward-thinking ethos and dedication to harnessing technology for the greater good. By fostering knowledge-sharing and encouraging dialogue through its symposiums, AUB Online is not just responding to the trends and transformations in higher education; it is actively shaping the future.