ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, the 2nd International Conference on Advancing Sustainable Futures (ICASF 2024) will take place from December 11-12, 2024, at the Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal, in Khor Al Maqta’a, Abu Dhabi.
Aligned with the United Nations 17 Sustainable Goals (SDGs), the two-day conference themed, Innovation and Digital Transformation for Sustainable Futures, received 720 submissions, 330 of which will be presented in 52 parallel sessions across 11 tracks.
Organised and hosted by Abu Dhabi University (ADU), the conference will convene more than 65 keynote speakers, panellists from national and international organisations and universities including ministers, diplomats, distinguished academics, researchers industry experts and policy makers from more than 90 countries. The speakers will discuss the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital technologies in addressing critical sustainability challenges and shaping resilient, future-ready communities.
The event will feature seven panel discussions, including AI-Driven Innovation: Pioneering Sustainability in the Digital Transformation Era, Empowering Inclusion and Change Through Innovation: Aligning Higher Education with SDGs in the Digital Transformation Era, and Driving Change: Innovation in Humanitarian, Anti-Poverty Solutions, Philanthropy and Corporate Social Responsibility for Sustainable futures, as well as Empowering Women in the Digital Age: Challenges and Opportunities, Navigating Finance and Audit for ESG in the Era of Innovation and Digital Transformation, Driving Sustainability: The Impact of International University Rankings on Institutional Strategies and Practices, and Data Science for Sustainability.
The conference will cover a wide range of topics, including digital innovation in science, engineering, and business; advancements in AI, green IT, and data science for sustainability; and the impact of digital transformation in law, health, and education. Attendees will also explore sustainable project management, corporate social responsibility, and innovative solutions to address poverty. A special focus will highlight the financial implications of innovation and opportunities for early-career researchers.
Professor Ghassan Aouad, Chancellor of ADU, said: “The ICASF 2024 represents our commitment to fostering innovation and addressing the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges. This conference exemplifies our role as an academic hub for global collaboration, bringing together visionaries to catalyse impactful change and contribute to a resilient and sustainable future.”
ICASF 2024 will also recognise groundbreaking research through the Conference Best Research Paper awards, spotlighting contributions in areas such as digital-driven innovation, green technologies, sustainable education, AI advancements and corporate social responsibility in the digital age.
Professor Sherine Farouk, Associate Provost of Academic Projects at ADU, said: “At ADU, we believe in empowering our students and communities to be at the forefront of innovation and sustainability. By hosting ICASF 2024, we not only contribute to the UAE’s leadership in sustainable development, but also ignite a global dialogue on transforming digital advancements into actionable, sustainable solutions.”
The ICASF 2024 will feature two sessions, The launch of the Arab Universities for Climate Change Knowledge Network (AUCCKN) and the ADU-Liwa Global Collaborative Research and Innovation Program. Submitted research papers will also can be published in more than 14 Scopus-indexed journals in Q1 and Q2.
During the conference, ADU will forge four Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with strategic partners. These agreements will foster knowledge exchange, advance collaborative research and provide professional certification opportunities for students.
The ADU event is sponsored by the Emirates Red Crescent, Adeeb Group, Inovartic Investment, and Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau, in collaboration with key partners such as the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), UAE Internal Auditors Association, in addition to HUAWEI, ANXINSEC, the Association of Arab Universities, and leading universities worldwide.