rania lougmiri

At a time when the boundaries between academia and society continue to shift, knowledge production must respond to broader social realities. In alignment with global frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, this conference situates higher education within broader commitments to equity, sustainability, and inclusion. Universities can no longer operate as self-referential institutions where success is measured solely through publication metrics and citation counts. The question is not only whether research is rigorous, but whether it is consequential and capable of contributing to positive societal change.
 The conference further recognizes that socially impactful scholarship must contribute to addressing major national and global challenges. At a time when societies face complex environmental, technological, economic, cultural, and social transformations, higher education and research institutions are increasingly called upon to generate knowledge that not only advances academic understanding but also contributes to public well-being, sustainable development, social justice, innovation, and evidence-informed decision-making.

This commitment aligns with broader international efforts, including the United Nations Sustainable
 Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, both of which recognize the central role of research and innovation in promoting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient societies.
 Beyond the production and dissemination of knowledge, universities and research institutions are increasingly expected to serve as strategic actors in innovation, evidence-informed policymaking, sustainable development, and social transformation. This conference seeks to explore how scholarship can contribute meaningfully to addressing contemporary societal challenges while maintaining the highest standards of academic rigor, scientific integrity, and intellectual independence.

Objectives

  • Reposition social impact as a core dimension of scholarly value.
  • Examine how knowledge production engages with societal challenges, particularly in contexts marked by structural inequalities.
  • Foster dialogue across disciplines and sectors on the conditions that enable meaningful and responsible scholarship.
  • Support researchers in articulating the societal relevance of their work
  • Promote dialogue on how research and innovation can contribute to addressing national, regional, and global challenges while advancing sustainable and inclusive development.

Scope and Participation

The conference welcomes contributions from all disciplines, including but not limited to:

  • Natural sciences and engineering
  • Social sciences and economics
  • Humanities and cultural studies
  • Education and teacher training
  • Law, governance, and public policy
  • Business and entrepreneurship
  • Artificial intelligence and data science
  • Environmental and sustainability studies
  • Arts, design, and creative practices
  • Applied linguistics and language policy

Submissions may adopt quantitative, qualitative, mixed, or theoretical approaches. Contributions from doctoral researchers and early-career scholars are particularly encouraged.

Thematic Areas

  • Education, Equity, and Empowerment
  • Open Education and Knowledge Access
  • Technologies, Ethics, and Social Futures
  • Artificial Intelligence and Social Responsibility
  • Public Health and Social Determinants
  • Economic Justice and the Future of Work
  • Policy, Governance, and Institutional Reform
  • Culture, Identity, Language, and Society
  • Intercultural Competence, Global Engagement, and Higher Education
  • Art and Social Transformation
  • STEM and Social Responsibility
  • Minority Languages and Cultural Preservation
  • Heritage Languages, Transmission, and Intergenerational Continuity
  • Human Rights, Social Inclusion, and Equity
  • Interdisciplinarity for Sustainable Development
  • Research, Innovation, and Societal Impact in Addressing National and Global Challenges
  • Open Research and the Politics of Knowledge
  • Higher Education Reform and Accountability
  • Water security, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability
  • Food security, sustainable agriculture, and rural development
  • Renewable energy, green hydrogen, and energy transition
  • Health, biotechnology, and wellbeing
  • Artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and educational technologies
  • Innovation ecosystems, entrepreneurship, and technology transfer
  • Governance, public policy, and social inclusion
  • Cultural heritage, linguistic diversity, and social cohesion
  • Sustainable cities, territorial development, and resource management

Core Question

All submissions should clearly address the following question:

                                                      “How does this research serve society?”