Prof. Isam Zabalawi, President of the Australian University (AU), participated as a keynote speaker at the 1st International Conference on Sustainable Innovation in Engineering (ICSIE 2026), held at Hilton Amman, Jordan, from 7 to 9 October 2026.
Organized by Yarmouk University in partnership with the IEEE Jordan Section, the conference brought together researchers, engineers, industry professionals, and decision-makers to explore how engineering innovation can advance sustainable development, environmental resilience, and technological progress.
Prof. Zabalawi delivered a keynote address titled “Engineering Education for Future Workforce Needs: Talent Development and Sustainable Innovation” His presentation placed engineering education and talent development within the broader discussion of preparing for future workforce needs and supporting sustainable innovation.
The conference coincided with Yarmouk University’s Golden Jubilee, celebrating fifty years of contributions to education, knowledge, and development. Its program featured twelve thematic tracks addressing a broad range of fields, including energy, climate change, smart cities, robotics, telecommunications, biomedical engineering, agriculture and food security, the digital economy, education, and artificial intelligence.
According to the organizers, the conference program included 535 papers from 45 countries, scheduled across 24 in-person and 38 virtual sessions. This international participation provided a platform for exchanging research, sharing expertise, and exploring collaboration across disciplines and borders.
Prof. Zabalawi’s participation reflects AU’s commitment to contributing to international discussions on the future of engineering education. It also reinforces the University’s focus on developing talent equipped to respond to changing industry needs and contribute to innovation and sustainable development.
