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Zawya
01-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
First Arab scholarship launched to support students at Tsinghua University in China
The Hazem Ben-Gacem Arab Scholars Program will support up to 15 students every year for five years through Undergraduate and Postgraduate Programmes at Tsinghua University in China. The Scholar's Program is available to students from Arab League countries. The scholarship strengthens ties between the Arab States and China, giving students access to one of the most prestigious universities in China. Distinguished ambassadors, dignitaries, and academic leaders gathered on Thursday, 26 th June, at Tsinghua University in China ( to mark the official launch of the Hazem Ben-Gacem Arab Scholars Program, a landmark initiative to empower students from Arab League countries through world-class education while fostering academic excellence and cross-cultural collaboration. This year, the Scholars Program will support six students from Arab League nations who are pursuing postgraduate courses at the historic university. This program is understood to be the first scholarship established at Tsinghua University specifically for students from Arab nations and aims to strengthen Sino-Arab relations. Tsinghua University is a top-ranked Chinese university with a strong reputation in technology and engineering, often compared to MIT. Established in 1911, Tsinghua University has 20 colleges and 90 undergraduate programs, enabling it to offer a wide array of academic disciplines. Tsinghua alumni have made significant contributions to the economic, cultural, and technological development of China and also represent many of the nation's political elite. Hazem Ben-Gacem, Founder and Chief Executive of BlueFive Capital, said: ' For more than a thousand years, the Arab region and China have been bound by a vibrant exchange of goods, knowledge, and cultural dialogue. By enabling exceptional Arab students to study at Tsinghua, China's pinnacle of academic excellence, we aim to develop leaders who will carry forward this agelong spirit of curiosity and collaboration, ensuring that the Arab-China relationship evolves as a beacon of cooperation in an increasingly fragmented world.' Professor Yang Bin, Vice Chancellor of Tsinghua University Council, expressed the university's sincere gratitude for Mr. Hazem Ben-Gacem's generous donation. He noted that in recent years, Tsinghua has implemented a series of strategic initiatives to enhance its global impact, with particular emphasis on deepening engagement and cooperation with Arab League member states, which has significantly advanced cultural exchanges between both sides. The newly established Hazem Ben-Gacem Arab Scholars Program, funded by Mr. Hazem Ben-Gacem's donation, will support six incoming full-time master's students from Arab League countries. Professor Yang emphasized that this initiative will not only motivate recipients to pursue academic excellence but also serve as an important milestone in strengthening the friendship between Tsinghua and the Arab world. It vividly embodies the shared values of openness, inclusiveness, mutual respect, and the pursuit of common progress across cultures and borders. The Hazem Ben-Gacem Arab Scholars Program will begin this academic year (2025-2026). Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Tsinghua University Education Foundation (TUEF). Hashtags: #Education #Scholarship #ArabScholarsProgram #Philantropy #TUEF About Hazem Ben-Gacem: Hazem Ben-Gacem is the Founder and Chief Executive of BlueFive Capital. Until September 2024, he was co-Chief Executive Officer at Investcorp, the Middle East's largest non-sovereign private equity firm, chairing most of its private equity and infrastructure investment committees and overseeing all Investcorp's activities in the Middle East, South East Asia, Japan, and China. Prior to that, Hazem led Investcorp's European private equity and its global technology investment businesses. During his 30-year tenure, Hazem directly led over 40 private equity investments across most world regions. Hazem began his career in New York as a member of the M&A team at Credit Suisse First Boston. Hazem has previously been a donor for different scholarship programs with Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Kennedy School, and Oxford University. Hazem serves on the Executive Boards of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and St Anthony's College at Oxford University, and the Dean's Council of the Harvard Medical School. In 2017, he founded the Harvard Office in Tunisia, the first formal presence for Harvard in the Arab world. For more information, please visit About Tsinghua University Education Foundation (TUEF): Founded in 1994, it is the first university education foundation established in China following the reform and opening up of China. The objective of TUEF is to foster the development of education in China, improve educational quality and academic research, advocate the culture and vision of Tsinghua University, and strive for philanthropic support from domestic and international organizations and individuals. TUEF actively raises social resources, constantly optimizes project management, and steadily promotes the preservation and appreciation of value in efforts to help Tsinghua University move towards the goal of becoming a globally leading university. TUEF fully leverages the advantages of scientific and technological talents in Tsinghua University, supports public welfare services, and boosts social progress and human welfare through the development of education. For more information, please visit
Forbes
24-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How Digital Universities Can Help Higher Ed Embrace Change
At this year's Digital Universities US 2025 conference in Salt Lake City, I was reminded of how quickly our sector is evolving. I had the opportunity to join academic leaders, innovators, and partners from across the country to talk candidly about what's working, what's not, and what lies ahead. Higher education is facing pressure from all sides. Enrollment patterns are shifting. Technology is advancing rapidly. Public skepticism is growing. But even in uncertain moments, there are ways forward. Those ways require coordination, commitment, and the courage to try something new. Digital Universities 2025 in Salt Lake City Institutions across the country are working to prepare students for what's next. That means staying close to industry, investing in real-life learning, and adapting programs to meet the demands of a changing economy. It requires focusing on outcomes and measuring success by the real-world opportunities students are able to pursue. What It Means to Be a Digital University When we talk about digital universities, we're not just talking about software or screens. We're talking about institutions that embed digital thinking into everything they do. That includes teaching, operations, advising, and partnerships with employers and government. It also includes creating learning environments that are flexible, responsive, and student-centered. At the conference, there was particular energy around artificial intelligence. Universities nationwide are already rolling out broad access to tools like ChatGPT. That urgency was reinforced during a discussion of recent federal action. One example is the executive order signed by President Trump titled, 'Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth.' The order outlines a multi-pronged approach to fostering early interest and expertise in AI. It includes the creation of a White House Task Force on AI Education, a Presidential AI Challenge to promote student innovation, and a public-private partnership model to expand K–12 access to AI education. It also prioritizes AI use in teacher training grants and apprenticeships. Many institutions are now taking action to integrate AI literacy into the student experience. Some are introducing new coursework or training modules. Others are updating institutional policies to guide academic and ethical use of these tools. The goal is not simply to adopt technology but to prepare students to engage with it thoughtfully and effectively. Meeting Students Where They Are The modern student is not one type of learner. Some are 18 and entering college for the first time. Others are mid-career professionals looking to pivot. Many are balancing work, family, and school. The institutions that thrive will be those that meet students where they are without sacrificing quality or outcomes. That means expanding online and hybrid offerings, particularly in graduate and continuing education. It also means preserving robust in-person experiences for traditional undergraduates, especially those just beginning to build confidence, community, and independence. Institutions must also be transparent about outcomes. Students and families are looking for clear return on investment, whether through job placement, graduate school admission, or other measurable goals. Building on Common Ground Technology alone is not enough. We need to think strategically about where higher education and industry can align. That includes building coalitions around AI ethics, workforce training, and data responsibility. I personally have had conversations with business leaders who are asking how colleges and universities can serve as hubs for upskilling, reskilling, and lifelong learning. There is real promise in deeper collaboration between education providers, employers, and government agencies. That includes credentialing programs, expanded apprenticeship models, and digital tools that enhance advising, career preparation, and course design. It also means defending what makes our institutions essential. We are seeing increased scrutiny of higher education from policymakers and the public. Some of that criticism is valid. Some of it is opportunistic. Either way, we must respond with honesty and transparency. Our work matters. We must be clear about why. Looking Ahead Students across the country are pursuing education with urgency and purpose. They are working, caregiving, and learning, often at the same time. They are collaborating with community partners, experimenting with new tools, and solving problems that matter. The digital future will not wait for us. We have a choice to make. We can resist change and risk falling behind. Or we can lead change by staying rooted in our mission and focused on results. As a sector, we have the opportunity to shape what comes next. That means pushing ourselves to innovate, collaborate, and evolve. It means staying focused on equity, access, and readiness. It also means doing what higher education has always done best, educating people who are ready to take the next step. Institutions, like us at Pace University, are doing this work by developing programs aligned with workforce needs, expanding access through flexible learning pathways, and staying close to industry to ensure students graduate with the skills and the mindset that today's economy demands. President Krislov delivering an opening address
