Panel on Postcolonialism in Southeast Asia Moderated by AJ’s Jamal Elshayyal

Jamal Elshayyal, a senior academic and policy analyst, moderated a high‑profile panel at the International Leadership Forum in Cairo on Tuesday. The session brought together scholars and executive leaders from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates to discuss regional strategies for advancing higher‑education collaboration and technology transfer.

Elshayyal opened the discussion by outlining the forum’s objectives and then guided a series of questions that explored the challenges of cross‑border research funding, the role of universities in fostering entrepreneurship, and the impact of digital infrastructure on academic mobility. Representatives from the four countries highlighted best practices, shared data on joint research initiatives, and proposed a framework for a coordinated Middle‑East research network. The panel concluded with a consensus on establishing a regional task force to streamline grant applications and promote student exchanges.

The event underscored the growing emphasis on academic diplomacy in the Gulf region and reaffirmed the commitment of the participating nations to strengthen knowledge economies. The forum’s outcomes are expected to inform policy drafts and funding mechanisms in the coming academic year.