About the TL Annual Symposium

Each year, students elect a chairperson to lead the event's planning and execution — gaining real-world leadership experience while practicing democratic participation and collaborative decision-making. From selecting topics to designing action plans, students drive every stage of the process.

To date, TL students have implemented four symposiums addressing community-led initiatives, quality education and student governance in partnership with numerous regional universities, community-led initiatives,non-governmental organizations and policy-makers. 

The 2026 Symposium: Resilience in The Age of Turbulence: Translating Research into Action

Across the globe, societies are navigating a period of rapid transformation marked by technological disruption and geopolitical uncertainty. These dynamics are particularly significant in the MENA region, where complex and interconnected challenges require innovative and evidence-based responses.

This year, the symposium explores how building resilience through actors, capacities, and processes  is vital to convert knowledge into action and bring about positive change across the MENA region.

Through an interdisciplinary approach, the symposium will examine how knowledge generated within the region can inform policy, practice, and community initiatives. It will also encourage critical reflection on how knowledge is produced, how “evidence” is defined, and how concepts such as resilience, policy change, and social transformation can be applied within regional contexts. Ultimately, the symposium seeks to create a platform for students, researchers, and practitioners to exchange ideas and propose actionable approaches to current regional challenges.