Dr. Areej ElSayary

Societal Question 6: How Can We Prepare Individuals and Institutions for the Future?

This question draws together the broadest arc of my research, one that operates at the intersection of educational leadership, national policy, and institutional design. The publications span STEM policy and career aspirations, transformational leadership development in teacher education, and international comparative perspectives on educational governance. What unifies them is a sustained conviction that future readiness is not an emergent property of good intentions; it is the outcome of deliberate institutional strategy, evidence-based leadership, and policy coherence. In the second milestone, this conviction extends into the AI era, as research examines how institutions must rethink governance, entrepreneurial culture, and program design to remain relevant and resilient.

Research Areas: Future Skills | Leadership | Innovation | Entrepreneurship | Educational Policy | Institutional Transformation | Future of Higher Education

Milestone 1 (2018-2024)
Milestone 2 (2025-2026)

Milestone 1 (2018–2024)

Building Future-Ready Foundations: Leadership, Policy, and Institutional Transformation

This phase examined the leadership, policy, and institutional conditions needed to prepare individuals and systems for an uncertain future. Research investigated transformational leadership development among preservice teachers, how higher education can pursue reform through interdisciplinary design, and the policy implications of STEM education for career trajectories, establishing a sustained argument for systemic, evidence-based institutional transformation.

Journal Articles

  • Mohebi, L., & ElSayary, A. (2023). Transformational leadership qualities of teacher candidates in classrooms: A study from UAE. Journal of Studies in Education, 13(3), 1. https://doi.org/10.5296/jse.v13i3.21009
  • Baroudi, S. & ElSayary, A. (2024). Driving transformation in higher education: Exploring the process and impact of educational innovations for sustainability through interdisciplinary studies. Higher Education Quarterly, e12529, 1-23. http://doi.org/10.1111/hequ.12529

Book Chapters

  • ElSayary, A. (2018). The relationship between exposing young Emiratis to STEM education and their expectancy to pursue STEM career paths: Implications for STEM Policy in the UAE (pp. 27-58). In David, S.A., & Abdulai, A. (2018). Eds., Education Policies in the Age of Social Advancement: Studies from the United Arab Emirates. Scholars’ Press.
  • ElSayary, A. (2024). Enhancing Education in the Digital Era: Leveraging ChatGPT for Transformative Learning. In Olowoselu, A., & ElSayary, A. (2024). International Perspectives on Educational Administration using Educational Inquiry. Routledge eBooks. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032621296-4

Books (Edited Volumes)

Milestone 2 (2025–2026)

Shaping Future Systems: AI Policy, Entrepreneurship, and Future-Ready Education

Extending future-readiness into the AI era, this phase developed policy frameworks for integrating digital and AI ethics in general education, examined entrepreneurial mindsets and sustainable program design, and explored how VR, AI platforms, and digital commerce drive innovation across the UAE. The milestone culminates in an edited IGI Global volume on AI-driven educational leadership, a landmark contribution to Gulf policy and practice discourse.

Conference Papers

  • AlAmeri, N., & ElSayary, A. (2025). Overcoming Entrepreneurial Barriers: Exploring Technology-Based Solutions for Business Success in the UAE. Proceedings of the 29th World Multi-Conference on Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics (WMSCI 2025), 102-106. https://doi.org/10.54808/wmsci2025.01.102
  • Taleb, S., AlKhoori, M., & ElSayary, A. (2025). Enhancing virtual Try-On platforms for the UAE’s E-Commerce market. Proceedings of the 29th World Multi-Conference on Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics (WMSCI 2025), 107-113. https://doi.org/10.54808/wmsci2025.01.107
  • AlMarzooqi, H. K., & ElSayary, A. (2025). The impact of virtual reality on cultural tourism and heritage preservation in the United Arab Emirates. Proceedings of the 29th World Multi-Conference on Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics (WMSCI 2025), 51-56. https://doi.org/10.54808/wmsci2025.01.51

Book Chapters

  • ElSayary, A. (2025). Fostering Sustainable Development in Undergraduate Students’ Entrepreneurial Mindsets: Integrating Digital and AI Ethics in General Education. In M. Sposato & E. Carlos Dittmar (Eds.), Transforming Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Ethics With AI (pp. 463-486). IGI Global Scientific Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-9894-4.ch015
  • ElSayary, A. (2026). AI policy in the Gulf and Middle East. In Transforming Policy and Practice Through AI-Driven Educational Leadership (pp. 133-154). https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3373-4908-4.ch006

Books (Edited Volumes)

  • ElSayary, A., Al Murshidi, G., & Ragab, K. (Eds.). (2026). Transforming Policy and Practice Through AI-Driven Educational Leadership. IGI Global Scientific Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3373-4908-4