IREX and Development Gateway are proud to present an executive webinar series exploring the future of artificial intelligence in higher education. Bringing together senior leaders from across the sector, the series will examine the findings and implications of the recently launched AI Readiness in Higher Education report, which highlights how universities worldwide are responding to the opportunities and challenges of AI adoption, governance, workforce readiness, and institutional transformation.

June 2026 Webinar

The Higher Education AI Reality Check: From Global Insights to Institutional Action 

Format: Available On-Demand (scroll down)

The first session in this timely series was held live on June 10, 2026. We welcomed an esteemed set of global higher education leaders who discussed the most pressing questions facing institutions as they navigate AI adoption. The program was hosted by Aleks Dardeli, President and CEO of IREX, and the conversation focused on the ethical, strategic, and operational decisions shaping how higher education can respond with confidence and purpose.

This special event was moderated by IREX's Cameron Mirza, one of the principal authors of From Ambition to Adoption: Insights into University AI Readiness from Around the World.

The webinar featured a distinguished panel of leaders in higher education and global development:

• Dr. Malek A. Alsharairi, President, Yarmouk University
• Dr. Rick Burnette, Senior Vice Provost and Chief Strategy Officer of Florida State University
• Yaw Akuamoah Duah, Education Collaborative (Ghana) 
• Dr Njeri Ngaruiya, Lecturer, School of Computing, Strathmore University (Kenya)
• Dr. Elka Walsh, Chief Academic Officer, Microsoft

Together, panelists explored how universities approach AI in teaching, research, and administration, while also addressing the governance, talent, and institutional shifts required for responsible and effective implementation. The discussion offered practical insights into what AI readiness looks like in practice, the barriers institutions continue to face, and the priorities that can guide action, partnership, and investment.

Watch the Program

Future programs in the series will be held in September and November of 2026.