The first International Arab Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education, organized by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), was successfully held from May 23rd to 24th, 2023. The conference took place in a hybrid format at the ALECSO headquarters in Tunis, Tunisia. Distinguished attendees included H.E Prof. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director General of ALECSO, Prof. Mohamed Jemni, Director of ICT Department at ALECSO, H.E Dr. Mohamed Ali Boughdiri, Minister of Education and Chairman of the National Commission for Education, Science and Culture of the Republic of Tunisia, H.E Prof. Moncef Boukthir, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Tunisia, and H.E Dr. Nizar Bin Naji, Minister of Communication Technology of Tunisia. Representatives from UNESCO, private sectors, higher education institutions in the Arab region, and global experts in the field of education were invited to participate in the discussion.
UNESCO-ICHEI was invited to host a panel session themed "Artificial Intelligence and Higher Education" on May 24th in a hybrid format. Representatives from the IIOE partner HEI, Ain Shams University in Egypt, IIOE partner companies Huawei and UBTECH, as well as representatives from UNESCO-ICHEI, participated in the panel session. They shared the experiences of digital transformation in higher education and the application of artificial intelligence, and engaged in discussions with other experts and institutions in the education sector to explore the best practices of artificial intelligence in higher education.
Panelistsof the session
The International Arab Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education aims to address the different aspects of the use of AI in education and to initiate a constructive dialogue between experts, policy makers, education professionals and industry players. The conference covers various relevant topics, including recent advances in AI and their impact on education, the impact of AI on learning and teaching, the ethics and regulation of AI in education, training teachers and students in the use of AI, impact of AI in the workplace and the future of jobs, and future prospects for AI in education. The conference comprises ten sessions, each focusing on a specific theme: A Ministerial Panel on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation in Education, Artificial Intelligence in Education: Reality and Prospects, Artificial Intelligence Technology in Education, Efforts and Programs of International ICT Suppliers in the Fields of Artificial Intelligence, Human Machine Collaboration, Metaverse and Education, Artificial Intelligence and Higher Education, Generative Artificial Intelligence and ChatGpt, Digital Creative Industries in the Era of Artificial Intelligence, and Artificial Intelligence to achieve the fourth goal of sustainable development.
Conference Site in Tunisia of International Arab Conference onArtificial Intelligencein Education
In the session of "Artificial Intelligence and Higher Education" organized by UNESCO-ICHEI, Mr. Xue Feng, Chief of the IIOE Management Centre, provided an overview of the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE), Smart Classroom, and research on the digital transformation of higher education. Mr. Xue Feng shared how IIOE empowers the digital transformation of higher education and helps developing countries explore emerging technologies and engage in local practices. He highlighted the shared vision, models, and practical experiences aimed at shaping the future of education in the digital age.
Mr. Xue Feng, Chief of the IIOE Management Centre
Ms. Su Rui, expert of Research Institute of Higher Education Digital Transformation, UNESCO-ICHEI, provided a comprehensive overview of the background and proposal of the IIOE Micro-Certification Programme. Ms. Su Rui pointed out that in the era of artificial intelligence, the capacity building of higher education teachers faces numerous new challenges. However, at the same time, the emergence of generative artificial intelligence has also created many opportunities for the capacity building of higher education teachers. In this context of simultaneous opportunities and challenges, UNESCO-ICHEI plans to support the capacity building of higher education institutions' digital transformation by introducing the IIOE Micro-Certification Competency Framework and a series of micro-certifications. The aim is to establish an ecosystem that supports the development of teachers' capabilities and facilitates the co-construction and sharing of educational resources among higher education institutions. The project team expressed their willingness to engage in collaborative cooperation with experts from various fields and relevant higher education institutions to jointly optimize the program.
Ms. Su Rui, Expert of Research Institute of Higher Education Digital Transformation, UNESCO-ICHEI
Prof. Mona Abdel-Aal Elzahry, Executive Director of Education Strategy Administration, Director of IIOE Egypt National Centre, Ain Shams University, focused on showcasing Ain Shams University's digital practices and highlighted several digital teaching tools and platforms that the university has implemented. Prof. Mona also shared the obstacles and limitations encountered when applying digital applications such as VR tools in teaching, along with future development plans. She mentioned that UNESCO-ICHEI's partner enterprise, KMAX, has extensive experience in VR applications in higher education and vocational education. She expressed her anticipation for further exploration of potential collaboration between Ain Shams University and KMAX's VR solutions.
Prof. Mona Abdel-Aal Elzahry, Executive Director of Education Strategy Administration, Director of IIOE Egypt National Centre, Ain Shams University
Mr. Adnane Ben Halima,Vice president in charge of public relations for Mediterranean region at Huawei, shared Huawei's utilization of its leading ICT experience in education sector, along with its practices and achievements. He emphasized Huawei's active promotion of innovative applications of artificial intelligence in education. Huawei aims to enhance educational outcomes, provide digital learning experiences, and support teachers and students in teaching and learning in the era of artificial intelligence by leveraging Huawei's technology and innovation.
Mr. Adnane Ben Halima,Vice president in charge ofpublic relationsfor Mediterranean region at Huawei
Mr. Ray Chap, Education Research Director, UBTECH, introduced the AI education robots and solutions developed by UBTECH. He showcased UBTECH's AI education framework and its close integration with specialized research, vocational education, and public education fields. The discussion focused on maximizing the application of artificial intelligence technology in the education sector, mitigating AI risks, enhancing the digital literacy of teachers and students.
Mr.RayChap, Education Research Director, UBTECH
UNESCO-ICHEI and ALECSO hope to bring new opportunities and breakthroughs to the field of education through this conference, promote the widespread application of artificial intelligence in education, and bring richer and more beneficial learning and teaching experience to teachers and students. Through cooperation and exchanges, strengthen the development of artificial intelligence education on a global scale and promote the realisation of sustainable development goals.
The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) is a specialized agency based in Tunisia that operates within the framework of the Arab League. It focuses on the development and coordination of activities related to education, culture, and science in the Arab world. ALECSO aims to promote Arab intellectual unity through education, culture and sciences, and enhancing the educational, cultural and scientific level in the Arab World so that it can positively contribute to universal civilization. ALECSO is committed to preserving and promoting Arab cultural heritage, driving education reforms and modernization, and improving the quality and accessibility of education. As an important partner of UNESCO, ALECSO plays a significant role in promoting educational innovation and achieving sustainable development goals.
Since the signing of a memorandum of understanding with ALECSO in January 2023, UNESCO-ICHEI has collaborated with ALECSO on various exchange and cooperation initiatives, including the IIOE Arabic Micro-Course Competition and the joint research project on Higher Education Digital Transformation of Teaching and Learning in the Arab Region. These collaborations aim to promote digital transformation of higher education, enhance education quality, and foster equity in the Arab region.
The first International Arab Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education, organized by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), was successfully held from May 23rd to 24th, 2023. The conference took place in a hybrid format at the ALECSO headquarters in Tunis, Tunisia. Distinguished attendees included H.E Prof. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director General of ALECSO
