SICE 2025 Conference Emphasises Responsible AI Integration In Higher Education

The American University of Sharjah (AUS) recently concluded the second day of the Sharjah International Conference on Education: AI and Beyond (SICE 2025). This event, organised by AUS along with the University of Sharjah (UoS), was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi. The conference aimed to explore artificial intelligence's growing influence in education and workforce development.

On the first day, activities took place at UoS, while the second day was hosted at AUS. Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of AUS, attended the event, which gathered academics, researchers, and industry leaders. The focus was on how AI is transforming higher education and preparing students for future careers.

Sheikha Bodour opened the day with a welcome address. Professor Esameldin Agamy, Chancellor of UoS, followed with remarks highlighting academic partnerships' role in fostering innovation within the UAE’s education sector. Sheikha Bodour emphasised educators' responsibility to integrate AI thoughtfully to benefit students and society.

Dr. Tod Laursen, Chancellor of AUS, remarked that SICE 2025 provided a timely platform to discuss AI's impact on higher education institutions' roles and responsibilities. The conference featured two keynote presentations offering insights into AI's evolving role in academia.

A panel discussion titled "Bridging the AI Skills Gap: Higher Education’s Role in Shaping the Future Workforce" included leaders from New York University Abu Dhabi, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, American University in Cairo, and Amazon Web Services. Moderated by Dr. Fadi Aloul from AUS College of Engineering, it focused on integrating AI skills into curricula while maintaining academic standards.

Throughout the day, over 30 peer-reviewed research papers were presented across six thematic tracks. Topics included AI in engineering education, blended learning, multilingual instruction, legal writing with AI assistance, personalised learning models, faculty development, and data-driven research. These presentations showcased how AI is reshaping teaching methods and institutional planning.

Research Showcases

A poster session at the AUS Main Building Rotunda allowed faculty and student researchers to share projects on AI-generated content and classroom technologies. They also explored learning analytics and collaborative digital tools. This session provided a platform for discussing innovative applications of AI in educational settings.

Dr. James Griffin from AUS noted that the technical depth of discussions was particularly impactful. He stated that these insights offer universities a practical roadmap for adopting AI with both academic rigor and innovation.

The conference successfully highlighted how artificial intelligence can be integrated into higher education to enhance learning experiences and prepare students for future challenges in their careers.

With inputs from WAM