The Center for Learning Innovation and Customized Knowledge Solutions (CLICKS) has today the 28^th of February, 2022 unveiled the top three shortlisted nominees   in each of the four categories of the Zairi International Awards for Excellence in Higher Education inaugural edition 2022.

The top three shortlisted institutions for each category were selected from among more than 90 applications received from 31 countries and includes those that have demonstrated through their application how they have significantly contributed to their communities and were able to provide evidence on achieving clear tangible benefits that are sustainable on the long run.

The judges who are part of the International Assessment Committee of the Award chaired by Dr. Larry Johnson, President and CEO, EdFutures, USA were looking for institutions who have been “agenda-leading” in research, digital transformation, community work and disruptive education within their own context and whose application was backed up by verifiable evidence. Each of the categories included five criteria against which applications were evaluated.

The next stage will include an independent evaluation by a jury led by Dr.Peter J. Wells, Chief, Higher Education at UNESCO to select the 2022 winners for each category.

Nominees for each of the four categories are  as follows (the listing is not based on the scores obtained):

1. Award of Excellence for Digital Transformation

• Higher Colleges of Technology , UAE
• Euromed University of Fez Morocco, Morocco
• Luminus Technical University College (LTUC), Jordan

2. Award of Excellence for Research Impact

• King Abdulaziz University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• University of Southern Mindanao, Philippines
• The University of South Africa (UNISA), South Africa

3. Award of Excellence for Disruptive Education

• The Aga Khan University, Pakistan
• ADA University,  Azerbaijan
• The University of Barcelona, Spain

4. Award of Excellence for Outstanding Non- Profit Contribution to the Community 

• The Academy of Health Sciences, Syria
• Saint Joseph University of Beruit, Lebanon
• Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Malaysia

Congratulations to all nominees!

The winners for each category will be announced at the opening ceremony of the 5^th MENA Higher Education Leadership Forum (www.menahelf.com)  held on the morning of the 23^rd of March, 2022 in Dubai.

The 2023 cycle of the award will be open for applications between April 15th and October 15th, 2023. Further information about new categories will be published early April.