Dr Mahinour Ezzat, Manager, Instruction Higher College of Technology (HCT), Dubai, talks to Józefa Fawcett during the break about how valuable attending the MENA-HELF event is especially as she is responsible for pushing the boundaries of excellence and quality. HCT are active members of Advance HE a British charity promoting excellence in higher education. It advocates evidence-based teaching methods and awards fellowships as professional recognition for university teachers, and Mahinour supports the upskilling of faculty using the standards of Advance HE to enable them to pause and think about what they are doing when teaching, involving students in curriculum design, and adapting to the needs of future students.