JEDDAH — When the 11th annual Gulf Education Conference (GEC) begins on Feb. 23, hosted at the University of Business Technology (UBT), university and governmental leadership as well as top academics from around the Middle East and across the globe will discuss one of today’s hottest topics.

“The Fourth Industrial Revolution involves technological advances that would have been unimaginable just years ago, with profound opportunities and challenges,” said Abdelkhalig, CEO of Gulf Education.

“Gulf professors have expertise that is vital to this global issue and the GEC is the perfect forum to bring them together. This conference is about ensuring technology works for us, not the other way around.”

Headliners among the almost 40 speakers include: Dr. Abdulla S. Dahlan, chairman of board of trustees at UBT; Dr. Abdulrahman Obaid AI-Youbi, director of King Abdul Aziz University; Dr. Saad Al-Masoudi, director of education, Jeddah Governorate; Prince Saad Al-Saud, dean of the College of Information & Communication, Imam Mohammad bin Saud Islamic University; Dr. Rimah Saleh Alyahya, deputy minister for private higher education and Princess Doaa Bint Mohammed, supreme head of the Arab Women's Foundation.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is driven by a fusion of technologies in physical, digital and biological realms impacting society at an accelerating pace. Universities played a central role in creating the revolution and should play a similar role in addressing its opportunities and challenges.

“GEC is one of the region’s most important conferences,” said Anjum Malik, co-founder of the Alhambra-US Chamber, a US-based educational NGO, adding, “Technological change doesn’t just impact nations and economies, it impacts our daily lives. We have to be prepared.”

Malik’s presentation at GEC includes how to social media and digital presence to strengthen professional and life skills. — AFP