
AABS 2025 African Deans and Directors Forum
Overview
The AABS African Deans and Directors Forum is a prestigious event designed to bring together decision-makers from business schools and related entities across Africa and globally. The primary objective of this forum is to foster collaboration and innovation among leaders in the academic and business sectors. Attendees participate in a masterclass where they engage in meaningful discussions about future impactful initiatives and effective problem-solving strategies. This forum not only provides a platform for insightful dialogue but also facilitates the creation of a robust network among participants. As part of the AABS membership, this event offers invaluable opportunities for professional growth and the development of new ventures in the African market.
Host
Woxsen University
Logistics
Venue
All of the forum events will take place in Hyderabad, India. Exact locations will be announced soon.
Getting There: Your Guide to Hyderabad
Transportation Options for All Participants
Ride-hailing services such as Uber and inDrive are available in Hyderabad.
Please note: These services are at the participant’s own expense.
Included Transportation for FULL Experience Pass Holders
Participants registered for the FULL Experience Pass will receive complimentary group transportation as part of their registration:
- 9 November: Airport pickup and transfer to Woxsen University
- 10 November: Transfer from Woxsen University to the Forum Hotel
Accommodation
Hotel accommodation at Avasa Hotel is included in the forum registration fee. Below are the hotel details:
Avasa Hotel
Plot No. 15, 24, 25 & 26, Survey No. 64,
Sector-1, HUDA Techno Enclave,
Madhapur, Hyderabad - 500 081
You may check the hotel at https://www.hotelavasa.com/
Visa Information
- AABS' policy mandates that attendees must be registered and have fully paid to receive a visa letter.
- For more information to apply for an e-visa if applicable, please visit this official website: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/index.html
- If you are not eligible for an e-visa, please contact the Indian embassy in your country.
Speakers
Stay tuned for the full lineup of the speakers.
Agenda
Registration Prices
The FULL Experience Pass
Woxsen Experience + AABS Academy Workshop + Deans and Directors Forum
📅 9–15 November 2025
- Early Bird (until 30 August 2025)
- Members: $2,200
- Non-Members: $2,600
- Standard (from 1 September 2025)
- Members: $2,300
- Non-Members: $2,700
The PLUS Experience Pass
AABS Academy Workshop + Deans and Directors Forum
📅 10–15 November 2025
- Early Bird (until 30 August 2025)
- Members: $2,050
- Non-Members: $2,450
- Standard (from 1 September 2025)
- Members: $2,150
- Non-Members: $2,550
The CORE Experience Pass
Deans and Directors Forum only
📅 11–15 November 2025
- Early Bird (until 30 August 2025)
- Members: $1,500
- Non-Members: $1,800
- Standard (from 1 September 2025)
- Members: $1,600
- Non-Members: $1,900
Local Delegate Pass
$875
Available to participants residing locally and affiliated with a local institution.
Includes access to the Deans and Directors Forum only. Accommodation and other experiences require full pass.
Partner Access Pass
$500
Covers accommodation and all official program activities.
Sponsors
How to become a sponsor
At AABS, we offer flexible sponsorship options designed to meet various goals and budgets. Sponsors can choose from three tiers, each providing a range of benefits to maximize visibility and engagement with our network. Additionally, we offer over 20+ add-ons to further tailor your sponsorship experience, allowing for customized branding opportunities, speaking slots, and enhanced networking access to ensure your brand stands out and achieves its objectives.
If you are interested or have any questions, please contact us at communication@aabschools.com
AABS Academy Workshop
AI For Strategic Academic Leadership
Transform from AI-Curious to AI-Confident in 4 Hours
About the Workshop
This intensive 4-hour executive workshop is designed to equip university deans and directors with practical, no-code AI skills that deliver immediate institutional impact. Participants will gain hands-on experience with user-friendly AI tools including NotebookLM, Google Gemini, Gamma, Canva, and Otter.ai to address critical leadership challenges including governance, funding, talent management, digital transformation, and crisis response.
What makes this workshop unique:
- Strategic Focus: Designed specifically for senior academic leaders, not technical staff
- Immediate ROI: Participants typically reduce report preparation time by 40% and improve decision-making speed by 30%
- Peer-to-Peer Learning: Collaborative problem-solving with fellow deans and directors
- 90-Day Implementation Support: Ongoing coaching to ensure actual adoption
- Risk-Aware Approach: Includes AI ethics, compliance, and change management
Through collaborative group challenges using real institutional data and personalized action planning, participants will leave with working AI workflows ready for immediate implementation. The workshop emphasizes experiential learning, peer collaboration, and measurable outcomes, ensuring accessibility for leaders without technical backgrounds.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Implement AI-Enhanced Decision Making: Apply AI tools to reduce analysis time by 40% while improving data-driven decision quality
- Master No-Code AI Tools: Demonstrate proficiency in 6+ free AI platforms tailored for university administration
- Write Effective AI Prompts: Craft clear, specific prompts that maximize AI output for leadership tasks
- Solve Real-World Challenges: Collaboratively address governance, funding, talent management, and crisis response using AI
- Develop Institutional AI Strategy: Create a 90-day AI adoption roadmap with measurable success metrics
- Navigate AI Ethics and Compliance: Implement AI governance policies that meet FERPA, GDPR, and institutional requirements
- Lead AI Adoption: Manage change resistance and build institutional buy-in for AI initiatives
Facilitators
Dr. Hemachandran K
Director of AI Research Centre & Vice Dean, Woxsen University
Dr. Hemachandran K brings extensive expertise in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, NLP, and Computer Vision to academic leadership. As a UNESCO Expert and ATL Mentor of Change, he guides innovation in education globally. His background includes serving on advisory boards for international companies and contributing significantly to AI research through patented systems and numerous publications.
Dr. Rajesh Kumar K V
CTO, AI Research Centre, Woxsen University
Dr. Rajesh Kumar K V serves as CTO of the AI Research Centre at Woxsen University, bringing extensive experience in leading AI/ML, IoT, and Data Science projects using Agile methodologies. His core expertise spans AI/ML, Deep Learning, Data Analytics, and Robotics, coupled with strong project management skills and a proven track record in cross-functional team leadership.