120 researchers discuss artificial intelligence developments at Al Ain University’s annual student forum

Al Ain, January 27, 2020 – Under the patronage and presence of Sheikha Dr. Shamma bint Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan, the activities of the second annual student conference of the Association of Deanships of Student Affairs, emanating from the Association of Arab Universities, were launched today, under the slogan “Artificial Intelligence Without Borders… Students’ Journey to the Future,” at the Al Ain University headquarters in Al Ain, with the conference’s activities continuing until January 29, 2026.

The conference witnesses wide participation by more than 120 researchers who presented more than 120 research papers, representing 26 universities from 10 Arab countries, namely “the UAE, Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt,” in confirmation of the growing Arab academic presence in the fields of artificial intelligence and student scientific research.

The conference includes an integrated scientific program that includes specialized seminars, scientific sessions, and motivational workshops, presented by an elite group of researchers, academics, and experts, with the aim of highlighting the latest applications and research trends in the field of artificial intelligence, and enhancing students’ research and innovation capabilities.

She said to Sheikha Dr. Shamma bint Mohammed in her speech during the opening of the conference that the concept of limitless in artificial intelligence does not mean abolishing controls, but rather it means dissolving the lines between reality and what can be. Here I direct my message to the youth: You are required to take back the wheel of leadership. The machine has speed and data, but you have wisdom and conscience. Do not let the algorithms write your narrative, but rather let your minds and consciences be the ones who write the chapters of the future using the feather of artificial intelligence.

For his part, Dr. Ghaleb Al-Rifai, President of Al Ain University, stressed that the second annual student conference reflects the university’s commitment to supporting student scientific research and enhancing the role of students in anticipating the future and creating knowledge, pointing out that artificial intelligence is no longer a technical option, but rather has become a pivotal element in developing the higher education system and building human capabilities capable of innovation and competition.

He added that hosting this important event embodies the university’s keenness to provide an interactive scientific platform that brings together students and researchers from various Arab universities, and contributes to exchanging experiences and enhancing academic integration in a way that serves the process of sustainable development.

For her part, Dr. Ibtihal Abu Rizq, Vice President of Al Ain University for Development and Follow-up Affairs, Dean of Student Affairs, and Secretary-General of the Association of Deanships of Student Affairs, explained that the conference constitutes a qualitative space to enable students to employ artificial intelligence tools in scientific research and creative thinking, stressing that building a generation aware of future technologies requires integrating academic knowledge with practical application, and enhancing students’ analysis and innovation skills.

The organization of the conference comes within the framework of supporting current trends towards digital transformation and the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies as one of the main drivers of sustainable development and building a knowledge economy, as artificial intelligence constitutes an essential pillar in developing higher education, empowering students with the tools of the future, and enhancing their ability to innovate and create smart solutions to societal and economic challenges.

The conference also emphasizes the importance of investing in young minds and preparing them to actively engage in the process of technological development, keeping pace with global changes and serving development priorities in the Arab world.

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