The First Arab-Euro Conference on Higher Education (AECHE) brings together for the first time the Association of Arab Universities (AARU) and the European University Association (EUA) and their respective members. The Conference is addressed to university leaders and its focus will be promoting, within a joint AARU and EUA framework, a sustainable process of dialogue, mutual understanding, exchange of knowledge and increased cooperation between Arab and European universities. This major event will encourage Rectors, Presidents and Vice-chancellors from both regions to rethink the role of the university in the current context of internationalization and to examine the introduction of new functions to tackle socio-economic challenges in the Arab, Euro and Arab-Euro contexts.