SHARJAH, 14th May, 2025 (WAM) -- American University of Sharjah (AUS) hosted the second and final day of the Sharjah International Conference on Education: 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 Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.
Day one of the conference took place at UoS, while day two was held at AUS in the presence of 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 Sheikha Bodour, followed by welcome remarks from Professor Esameldin Agamy, Chancellor of UoS, 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.”
Dr. Tod Laursen, Chancellor of AUS, said, “SICE 2025 served as a timely platform to engage with how AI is redefining the role and responsibilities of higher education institutions.”
The day two programme featured two keynote presentations, each offering distinct insights into the evolving role of AI in higher education.
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, personalised 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. These insights offer a practical roadmap for how universities can approach AI adoption with academic rigor and innovation."