Daffodil International University (DIU), Bangladesh, highlighted its transformation journey from an AI-Enabled University to an AI-Native University at the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP) Regional Conference held in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Representing Bangladesh at the international gathering, Md Sabur Khan, chairman of Daffodil International University and treasurer-elect of IAUP, joined university presidents, academic leaders, policymakers and higher education experts from around the world to discuss the future of higher education in the era of artificial intelligence and digital transformation, reads a press release.
During a special session on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation in Higher Education, Sabur shared DIU’s experience in integrating AI across teaching, learning, assessment, administration, employability and entrepreneurship development.
He presented DIU’s strategic vision of becoming an AI-Native University, where artificial intelligence is embedded throughout the institutional ecosystem to enhance student learning outcomes, operational efficiency and innovation capacity.
A key highlight of the conference was the launch of the IAUP publication “Universities After AI: Voices from the Global Frontier.”
Sabur contributed a chapter to the book and was invited to speak at the official launch session.His chapter explores how universities in the Global South can transition from digital institutions to AI-native universities through innovation, adaptability and ecosystem-driven transformation.
Speaking at the event, he emphasised that the future of higher education will not be defined by institutions that merely adopt AI tools, but by those that redesign learning, assessment, governance and human development around the realities of an AI-driven world.
He also highlighted several initiatives undertaken by DIU, including AI Professors, AI Proctors, StudentsHub, Perfect HR, entrepreneurship-driven education and industry-integrated learning models aimed at preparing future-ready graduates.
The conference served as a platform for exchanging ideas on AI, innovation, leadership, employability and global academic collaboration. It also underscored Bangladesh’s growing role in international higher education and innovation ecosystems.
During the conference, Sabur invited global academic leaders to participate in the IAUP Semi-Annual Conference 2026, which will be hosted by Daffodil International University in Dhaka from 19–21 November 2026.
The conference is expected to bring together university presidents and higher education leaders from across the world, marking a significant milestone for Bangladesh’s higher education sector.
