AUS issues a regional call to integrate AI responsibly across higher education

Inayat-ur-Rahman,
Business Editor
American University of Sharjah (AUS) hosted the second and final day of the Sharjah International Conference on Education: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Beyond (SICE 2025). This year's edition was jointly organised by AUS in collaboration with the University of Sharjah (UoS) and held under the patronage of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.
Day one of the conference took place at UoS, while Day Two was held at AUS in the presence of Her Excellency Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of AUS, bringing together academics, researchers and industry leaders to explore the expanding role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in higher education and workforce development.
The day began with a welcome address by Her Excellency Sheikha Bodour, followed by welcome remarks from Professor Esameldin Agamy, Chancellor, University of Sharjah, underscoring the importance of academic partnerships in advancing innovation across the UAE's education sector.
Addressing the conference, Sheikha Bodour said: 'We have a shared responsibility as educators and innovators to adapt to artificial intelligence and to thoughtfully shape its integration in ways that uplift our students – and society. By putting empathy, creativity, and critical thinking at the heart of education, we can ensure AI becomes a partner in enhancing human potential, not a replacement for it. This conference exemplifies our commitment to exploring AI's transformative potential responsibly, collaboratively, and purposefully.'
Her comments had been foreshadowed on Day One by Dr. Tod Laursen, Chancellor of AUS, who said: 'SICE 2025 served as a timely platform to engage with how AI is redefining the role and responsibilities of higher education institutions. The breadth of participation and the depth of discussion reflected a clear consensus: universities must lead in shaping AI's integration, not simply react to it. As we look ahead, it's essential that we invest in the right frameworks—academic, ethical and operational—that ensure AI enhances our core mission of learning, discovery and societal contribution.'
Dr. Tod Laursen told Gulf Today that Sharjah is a leading education and cultural hub due to the visionary leadership of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who is the pioneer in setting up the state-of-the-art universities in Sharjah.
He lauded that it is a great initiative that American University of Sharjah (AUS) and University of Sharjah have jointly organised the Sharjah International Conference on Education: AI and Beyond (SICE 2025), adding that are planning to host more mega events together in future.
The Day Two program featured two keynote presentations, each offering distinct insights into the evolving role of AI in higher education. Khadish Franklin, Managing Director and Head of Research Advisory Services at EAB, discussed how institutions can establish an AI posture to support strategic transformation. Dr. Jassim Al Awadhi, Senior Director and Digital Transformation Principal in the telecom sector, examined AI's implications for graduate readiness and future labor market demands. As an invited speaker, Dr. Sami Nejri explored AI's cognitive and interdisciplinary dimensions, encouraging institutions to rethink traditional academic boundaries.
A panel discussion titled 'Bridging the AI Skills Gap: Higher Education's Role in Shaping the Future Workforce' brought together leaders from New York University Abu Dhabi, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, the American University in Cairo, and Amazon Web Services. Moderated by Dr. Fadi Aloul, Dean of the AUS College of Engineering, the discussion focused on the need to integrate AI-related competencies into curricula while maintaining academic rigor and relevance.
Over the course of the day, more than 30 peer-reviewed research papers were presented across six thematic tracks, covering topics such as AI in engineering and design education, blended learning and gamification, multilingual instruction, AI in legal writing, personalized learning models, faculty development and data-driven academic research. Presenters showcased a range of applications demonstrating how AI is reshaping pedagogy, assessment, engagement and institutional planning.
A poster session held in the AUS Main Building Rotunda provided faculty and student researchers with a platform to share projects focused on AI-generated content, classroom technologies, learning analytics and collaborative digital tools.
Dr. James Griffin, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs and Instruction at AUS, said: 'The technical depth of the conference was especially impactful. We saw detailed presentations on adaptive learning models, AI-enhanced teaching platforms, institutional readiness metrics and the role of large language models in classroom settings. These insights offer a practical roadmap for how universities can approach AI adoption with academic rigor and innovation. The conversations happening here reflect the level of specificity and foresight that is needed to move from theory to implementation.'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Zawya

an hour ago

• Zawya

IntelliDent AI and Manipal Academy of Higher Education sign strategic MoU to transform healthcare through AI

IntelliDent AI, a Dubai-based healthtech innovator transforming dentistry through artificial intelligence, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), India—an Institution of Eminence and global academic leader. This strategic three-year partnership aims to accelerate advancements in AI-powered oral healthcare through collaborative research, education, and entrepreneurship. The MoU, executed on behalf of MAHE's Manipal College of Dental Sciences (MCODS), Mangalore, lays the foundation for academic-industry cooperation focused on developing future-ready dental AI solutions and equipping students with the technical and entrepreneurial skills to lead the next era of digital healthcare. Key Pillars of the Collaboration: Joint Research Programs: MAHE and IntelliDent will co-develop research initiatives in AI-driven diagnostics, public health, and healthcare innovation—contributing to academic publications, patents, and whitepapers. Training & Internships: MAHE students will gain hands-on exposure through internships and mentorships at IntelliDent, supported by industry insights, guest lectures, and workshops. Entrepreneurial Development: The collaboration will foster cohort-based learning modules, innovation hackathons, and startup support to accelerate the commercialization of student-led healthtech ideas. Knowledge Exchange: Faculty, researchers, and industry experts will engage in reciprocal learning and cross-training to fuel innovation, skill-building, and strategic growth. Affaan Shaikh, Founder & CEO of IntelliDent AI, shared his thoughts on the collaboration: 'This partnership is about reimagining healthcare through ethical AI and innovation. We are thrilled to work alongside one of India's top institutions to shape the next generation of AI health leaders.' The MoU was signed by Dr. Giridhar P. Kini, Registrar of MAHE, and Mr. Affaan Shaikh, with active engagement from academic and innovation stakeholders from both organizations. This collaboration underscores IntelliDent AI's mission to scale accessible, AI-powered dental care globally and MAHE's continued commitment to integrating technology, research, and impact-driven education in the healthcare ecosystem. Together, MAHE and IntelliDent AI are building a bold future where education, innovation, and oral health equity intersect.

Khaleej Times

9 hours ago

• Khaleej Times

Apple executives held internal talks about buying Perplexity: Reports

Apple executives have held internal talks about potentially bidding for artificial intelligence startup Perplexity, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing people with knowledge of the matter. The discussions are at an early stage and may not lead to an offer, the report said, adding that the tech behemoth's executives have not discussed a bid with Perplexity's management. "We have no knowledge of any current or future MA discussions involving Perplexity," Perplexity said in response to a Reuters' request for comment. Apple did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment. Big tech companies are doubling down on investments to enhance AI capabilities and support growing demand for AI-powered services to maintain competitive leadership in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. Bloomberg News also reported on Friday that Meta Platforms tried to buy Perplexity earlier this year. Meta announced a $14.8 billion investment in Scale AI last week and hired Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang to lead its new superintelligence unit. Adrian Perica, Apple's head of mergers and acquisitions, has weighed the idea with services chief Eddy Cue and top AI decision-makers, as per the report. The iPhone maker reportedly plans to integrate AI-driven search capabilities, such as Perplexity AI, into its Safari browser, potentially moving away from its longstanding partnership with Alphabet's Google. Banning Google from paying companies to make it their default search engine is one of the remedies proposed by the US Department of Justice to break up its dominance in online search. While traditional search engines such as Google still dominate global market share, AI-powered search options including Perplexity and ChatGPT are gaining prominence and seeing rising user adoption, especially among younger generations. Perplexity recently completed a funding round that valued it at $14 billion, Bloomberg News reported. A deal close to that would be Apple's largest acquisition so far. The Nvidia-backed startup provides AI search tools that deliver information summaries to users, similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini.

The National

13 hours ago

• The National

Historic Sharjah site in running for Unesco World Heritage status

A historic site in Sharjah where evidence of human presence dating back more than 210,000 years has been found is in the running for Unesco World Heritage status. Faya, an ancient archaeological site of huge significance in the Arabian Peninsula, is among 30 new sites being considered by the UN's cultural body. Unesco's World Heritage committee will now make a decision at its 47th session to be held from July 7 to 16 in Paris. The Sharjah site is what is known as a palaeolandscape, providing crucial insights into how early humans lived, migrated, and adapted to different environments. Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi is the official ambassador of the emirate's Unesco Heritage nomination file. 'Faya offers one of the oldest and most complete records of early human presence in Arabia, dating back over 210,000 years - a living archive that deepens our understanding of who we are, where we came from, and how we have learnt to survive,' said Sheika Bodour, in remarks carried by state news agency Wam last month. 'The Faya palaeolandscape's nomination for Unesco world heritage status highlights the importance of preserving these ancient sites, not only for their historical value but for their potential to educate future generations. As ambassador, I see this nomination as an opportunity to elevate Faya as a shared inheritance for all people around the world." Research pays off The Faya Range, a chain of limestone outcrops known in Arabic as jebels, can be considered a natural barrier between the Rub Al Khali desert to its west and the Dhaid-Madam plain to its east. The area is rich in resources such as flint and freshwater springs, which made human habitation possible. Different caves and dwellings provide physical evidence of human tools, life and burials. Scientists say the environment and people's way of living changed over thousands of years in the area. 'Over 30 years of meticulous research and collaboration led by our national mission and experts with international experts have revealed 18 distinct archaeological layers from the Stone Age, bringing to light an intricate history of human evolution, adaptation and survival right here in Sharjah,' said Eisa Yousif, director of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, in remarks also carried by Wam. 'As we advance Faya's Unesco world heritage nomination, it is important to emphasise that our collaborative efforts have made this a global project; one that connects the past with the present more strongly, adding to the rich global corpus of archaeological discoveries. This property, therefore, holds immense value for the world - not just Sharjah and the UAE," he added. Faya was added to Unesco's tentative list in 2023. The UAE has developed a comprehensive management plan for the Faya Palaeolandscape, which will guide its conservation, research, and visitor engagement from 2024 to 2030, Wam said. This plan aligns with Unesco's world heritage standards, ensuring that the site is preserved while also allowing for continued exploration and education. The UAE has currently one site on the heritage list. The cultural sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud and Oases Areas) were collectively added in 2011. Unesco's meeting, meanwhile, will also see it examine the extension of two sites already on the list and will review of the state of conservation of 248 sites already inscribed. To date, it has inscribed 1,223 cultural and natural sites in 168 countries on the world heritage list.