The Gulf Fellowship Network Forum 2026 is a landmark event bringing together higher education leaders, faculty members, and Fellows committed to teaching excellence and continuous professional development (CPD). This forum is designed to empower educators, foster collaboration, and drive innovation in teaching and learning across the Gulf region.
Building on the success of the inaugural Forum held on May 1, 2025, in Dubai under the theme Promoting Excellence in Higher Education Teaching, the 2026 Forum marks a significant advancement for the region. This edition brings together three major events under one integrated platform: the Advance HE Forum, the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Conference, and the Symposium on Academic Integrity (SAI).
This combined forum is the first of its kind in the Gulf, uniting higher education leaders, faculty, researchers, Advance HE Fellows, and academic integrity advocates. The event is dedicated to elevating teaching excellence, strengthening professional recognition, expanding SoTL research, and promoting ethical academic practice across the region.By integrating these three streams, the 2026 Forum will spark deep cross-disciplinary dialogue on pedagogy, innovation, integrity frameworks, and faculty development strategies.
Why attend?
- Gain Insights from Experts – Hear from distinguished keynote speakers and panellists.
- Engage in Professional Development – Participate in panel discussions, interactive workshops, and breakout sessions.
- Expand Your Network – Connect with educators, Fellows, and academic leaders from across the region.
- Recognize Teaching Excellence – Celebrate institutions and individuals advancing higher education excellence.
- Explore the Latest Trends – Learn about AI in education, assessment strategies, faculty development, and more.
Who should attend?
- Current and aspiring Advance HE Fellows (D1–D4)
- Higher education faculty and teaching staff
- University leaders and academic administrators
- Faculty developers and mentors
- Teaching and learning professionals
The Advance HE Gulf Fellowship Network was founded to create more than a community it was established to elevate the visibility and impact of educators whose work shapes the future of higher education. The Forum represents a key milestone in this journey. Building on the momentum of our inaugural gathering, this second edition expands its scope to integrate the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Conference and the Academic Integrity Symposium, reflecting our shared commitment to advancing teaching excellence in a holistic and sustainable way.
Dr Mahinour Ezzat, SFHEA
This Forum is where recognition becomes action. It is where Fellows, institutional leaders, and aspiring educators come together to share practice, challenge thinking, and support one another in navigating an increasingly complex academic landscape. It is also where institutions demonstrate their commitment to investing in their faculty—recognising that empowered educators are the foundation of meaningful student success.
I look forward to welcoming you to this next chapter, and to continuing, together, the work of shaping a culture where educators are recognised, supported, and empowered to lead.
Founder, Advance HE Gulf Fellowship Network
Director of Teaching and Learning, Ajman University
Call for video submissions – Beyond the Recognition: Fellowship in Practice
Are you an Advance HE Fellow, Senior Fellow, or Principal Fellow? We want to hear from you.
As part of the Gulf Fellowship Forum 2026, we’re curating a short-form video showcase that captures the real impact of Fellowship recognition on your teaching, leadership, or institutional culture.
Whether it’s how you lead colleagues, design learning experiences, or shape student engagement , your story can inspire others across the region.
What to share
Choose from one of the themes below:
- Transformation in Practice – How has your Fellowship recognition changed how you teach, lead, support, or influence others?
- From PSF to Practice – Share a concrete example where you applied one of the PSF 2023 Areas of Activity (e.g., A1, A2, A4) in your role.
- What’s Next? – How are you building on your Fellowship to grow, mentor others, or shape institutional strategy?
Submission details
- Format: up to 1-minute video (recorded in landscape)
- Language: English
- Deadline: 31 March 2026
- Keep it focused, choose one example or story
- Be authentic this is not a presentation, it’s your voice
- Please send your videos to [email protected].
10th Annual Conference of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) started in 2015 at Zayed University, UAE. SoTL is a field of research and study that aims to improve teaching and learning in the higher education context. Engaging in SoTL is considered as the most effective and transformative method of faculty professional development because SoTL practitioners inform their practice by the research that they conduct in their own classrooms. SoTL research is always carried out in naturalistic environments and when shared with others who are working in similar contexts and facing similar challenges in the classroom, it can be extremely powerful in developing higher education faculty and bringing about change on a large scale by increasing the quality of teaching and learning in higher education institutions.
This year marks the 10th Anniversary of SoTL in the Gulf and it is part of the 2026 Festival of Teaching and Learning!
All presentations at the conference will be dedicated to showcasing empirical evidence of effective teaching practices and interventions that promote student learning and foster academic achievement.
Join us as we come together to celebrate and champion the pursuit of teaching excellence and student success at the 10th Annual Conference of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning at the 2026 Festival of Teaching and Learning.
3rd Annual Symposium on Academic Integrity
Launched in 2024 in collaboration with Zayed University, UAE in collaboration with University of Wollongong in Dubai, the Symposium on Academic Integrity was established as a regional platform dedicated to strengthening ethical practice in education. In its second year, the Symposium joined the Advance HE Gulf Fellowship Network Forum, expanding its reach and reinforcing the role of integrity within professional recognition and faculty development. Now in its third year, the Symposium forms part of the 2026 Festival of Teaching and Learning, alongside the Advance HE Gulf Fellowship Network Forum and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference. This integrated model reflects a holistic vision: positioning academic integrity not as compliance, but as a foundation for teaching excellence, scholarly practice, and institutional credibility.
The Symposium brings together voices from schools, students, and higher education, recognising that integrity must be nurtured across the full educational continuum. We particularly welcome classroom-based action research that explores ethical learning environments, responsible assessment design, the implications of generative AI, and innovative practices that promote trust. Under the theme Recognising Excellence, Building Integrity, Inspiring Change, the Symposium seeks practical, evidence-informed approaches that strengthen culture, inspire leadership, and drive sustainable change across the region.
Sponsors
Advance HE
Gold sponsor
Covidence
Bronze sponsor
Riforma Consulting
Knowledge partner
Cambridge University Press and Assessment
Bronze sponsor
Digital Education Council
Knowledge Partner
UniNewsletter
Media partner
University of Birmingham – Dubai Campus
Ajman University
University of East Anglia
Knowledge partner
