Abu Dhabi University’s Chancellor, Prof. Ghassan Aouad, participated in a panel discussion on collaboration in the MENA region at the AACSB Elevate Conference 2026 in Tunis, expertly moderated by Mr Ihsan Zakri, the Vice President at AACSB, and also featuring Prof. Abdulla Al-Hawaj, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Ahlia University in Bahrain, and Dean Ayşegül Toker from Sabancı Business School in Turkey. The discussion addressed the current state of regional collaboration, the need for enabling infrastructure and institutional mindsets, and the role of business schools in driving innovation and partnerships. The session also highlighted the growing presence of female leadership across business schools in the region and its positive influence on advancing collaboration.