NYU Abu Dhabi’s (NYUAD) Office of Campus Life hosted the 11th Annual MENASA NASPA Conference from April 18-20 at NYUAD’s campus on Saadiyat Island . The conference offered 175 student affairs professionals the opportunity to discuss new approaches, challenges and ideas across higher education in the region.

As part of the annual program for NASPA, a professional association based in the United States for student affairs administrators, the event featured a two-part agenda that provided participants with a diverse platform for discussion on the subject of contemporary trends in higher education. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, the Minister of State for Higher Education, offered remarks as the event’s featured keynote speaker on the morning of April 19 before taking a tour of the NYUAD campus.

Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi commented: ‘It is a very exciting time to be working in higher education, a profession of great importance given the integral role it plays in shaping future generations and the world we live in. Student affairs professionals, in particular, are uniquely positioned to enrich the university experience, both inside and outside the classroom, to ensure that we are graduating well-rounded students with the skillsets to succeed in the ever-changing global economy."

Presenters from 15 institutions across regional higher education institutions offered comprehensive sessions on key topics in higher education over the course of the conference, including diverse approaches to student health and wellness, global student support, and the enhancement of supervisory and leadership styles in order to benefit college students.

NYUAD Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Kyle Farley said: "It was an honor to host the 11th Annual MENASA NASPA conference where we could continue building bridges with other institutions of higher learning throughout the UAE and the Middle East. Student affairs complements the in-classroom experience for undergraduates by supporting their growth and success, and we look forward to further collaboration with colleagues from across the region."

Section Head, Career Services, Qatar University, MENASA NASPA Board Member Abdulaziz Khaledi said: "MENASA NASPA was great, especially for the educators working in Student Affairs. We educate students but we deal with everyone in the university from students to faculty to leadership and this has been a meaningful opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences."

NASPA is the leading association for the advancement, health, and sustainability of the student affairs profession. MENASA NASPA encompasses 31 countries throughout the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, fostering regional platforms that allow academics, researchers, practitioners, and policy makers to discuss innovative models and trends in student affairs.