Md Sabur Khan, founder and chairman of Daffodil International University (DIU) and Daffodil Group, joined global higher education leaders in Dubai as a VIP speaker at the 7th MENA Higher Education Leadership Forum 2026, held from 28 to 30 September at Kempinski Central Avenue.
The forum, organised by the Center for Learning Innovations and Customized Knowledge Solutions (CLICKS), brought together senior figures from higher education, government, industry and international organisations to examine how universities can respond to global challenges while delivering local impact, DIU said in a press release.
Khan took part in the opening panel on 29 September, titled “Bridging Boundaries: Building a Collaborative Ecosystem for Workforce Readiness and Social Impact”.
Yusra Mouzughi, provost of the University of Birmingham Dubai, moderated the discussion, which focused on stronger collaboration among universities, industry, government and civil society to improve workforce readiness, promote innovation and generate measurable social impact.
Other panellists were Bassam Alameddine, president of the American University of Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE; Karim Seghir, chancellor of Ajman University in the UAE; Ahmed Elseragy, associate pro vice-chancellor for employability and dean of The British University in Egypt; Kinan Bahnassi, senior adviser for labour market and education policy at the Education & Human Development & Community Council in the UAE; and Morwenna Crago, senior director for marketing, product and sales enablement, higher education, at McGraw Hill International.
“Our responsibility is not only to prepare graduates for employment, but to empower them to innovate, create opportunities and contribute to society,” Khan said.
His participation reflected DIU’s continued engagement with international higher education networks and its focus on linking academic collaboration with practical outcomes, global employability and societal development, according to the release.
