
The Doctoral School Days – “Doctoriales” of the University of Sfax, which took place from 10 to 12 June 2024, highlighted the importance of digital transformation in higher education, especially for doctoral training in Human and Social Sciences (SHS).
Organised within the framework of the RAQMYAT project, these days brought together experts to discuss current issues related to digitalization, entrepreneurship and new technologies.
The “Doctoriales” programme
Among the speakers, Nizar Yaiche, former Minister of Finance and leader in digital transformation at PwC, opened the discussion by emphasizing the need to master knowledge in a constantly changing world. He highlighted the importance of the digital agenda not only for governments but also for academic institutions to better respond to today’s economic and social challenges.
On the same line, Boutheina Ben Yaghlane Ben Slimane, Professor at IHEC Carthage and former General Manager of the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, shared her experience on entrepreneurship as a catalyst for innovation. As a pioneer in supporting start-ups in Tunisia, she encouraged PhD students to consider entrepreneurship as a natural way to turn their research into concrete innovations.
The digital strategy for doctoral schools was also at the heart of the intervention by Faiez Gargouri, Vice-President of the University of Sfax. His presentation focused on the RAQMYAT project, which aims to digitize the training and management processes of doctoral schools, strengthening the transversal skills of PhD students to prepare them for an increasingly competitive labor market.
The contributions of international researchers also enriched the debate. Paolo Rosso, Professor of Computer Science at the Universitat Politècnica de València, highlighted the issues related to disinformation on social networks, highlighting the problem of “fake news”. Another contemporary issue was addressed by Christophe Charlier, Professor at the University of Côte d’Azur, who presented the challenge of environmental threats and the technological opportunities to confront them.
Finally, the growing importance of artificial intelligence (AI) was discussed by Shakir Ullah, Professor of Finance at Fayetteville State University, and Khaled Shaalan, head of the computer science department at the British University of Dubai. Prof. Ullah presented AI as a double-edged sword: a major opportunity to revolutionize sectors like finance, but also a potential threat to employment and ethics. Prof. Shaalan has explored the adoption drivers of technologies like ChatGPT in software development.
Conclusion
In short, the Doctoral Days produced enriching discussions on the importance of digitalization and innovation in the academic world. These exchanges have not only helped to consolidate international collaborations, but also offered a broader reflection on the future of Tunisian PhD students, preparing them to meet the challenges of tomorrow in a constantly changing world.
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