The Emirati Minister of Education, Dr. Ahmed bin Abdullah Hamid Belhoul Al Falasi, announced that the discussion on the impact of artificial intelligence in education has shifted from mere theoretical debates to practical applications.
The use of artificial intelligence technologies has become a fundamental necessity to enhance the quality of educational outcomes and develop all aspects of the education system.
These ideas were discussed during his participation in a debate titled: “Enhancing Education: Possibility of Providing a Virtual Teacher for All Students.” This debate took place as part of the UAE delegation’s participation in the 54th edition of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, held from January 15 to 19.
Brad Smith, Vice Chairman and President of Microsoft, and Kaudhesh Bativada, Founder and CEO of “ASI,” participated in the panel discussion held at the UAE pavilion.
The strategic session discussed the UAE’s integration of artificial intelligence applications into the education system to equip students with future skills. It also discussed how governments and large institutions can leverage artificial intelligence to dynamically improve and advance educational systems.
His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Al Falasi highlighted the significant progress in the use of artificial intelligence in the education system, aiming to enhance the education sector, meet present and future needs, and equip students with necessary skills and knowledge to work in vital sectors.
During the session, he emphasized the need for education ministries and decision-makers to carefully harness artificial intelligence applications in the education sector to ensure official educational systems keep pace with technological advancements and meet students’ aspirations. He also noted that the positive effects of artificial intelligence extend beyond developing students’ skills through virtual teachers to also contributing to enhancing teachers’ and educators’ capabilities.
He affirmed that teachers remain essential to the success and sustainability of the educational process due to their significant impact on students’ learning journey. He stressed the importance of using modern technologies and providing appropriate training and qualification programs to support and empower teachers in educating future generations more easily and efficiently.
The Ministry of Education reaffirms its commitment to integrating smart educational technology into the national education system in a deliberate and responsible manner, following tests and thorough reviews to benefit from its advantages and contribute to developing students’ learning experiences.
He stated, “The virtual teacher platform was experimentally launched by the Ministry during the COP28 climate conference hosted by the UAE in December during a specially held hackathon. The results were positive and satisfactory, especially regarding students’ engagement with the platform and their utilization of the provided capabilities.”
He highlighted that this platform now applies an advanced model offering tailored educational experiences that align with each student’s individual needs. The platform has been developed specifically to align with the country’s educational system, curricula, approved assessment methods, available in Arabic and English, and consider the country’s cultural diversity.
He also stated that the UAE is a global innovation center and holds advanced positions in various global competitiveness indicators. It is necessary for us to invest in future technology to maintain and enhance this advanced position. Therefore, we have explored the potential of artificial intelligence, studied it, and analyzed it to find the optimal ways to benefit from it in the education sector. We are eager to be at the forefront of taking all steps to prepare our students for excellence in the future job market in line with national priorities and the guidance of the President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for this year.
Dr. Al Falasi will participate in several high-level summit sessions and private meetings during his participation in the 2024 Davos Forum, such as a confidential session on public-private collaboration in education, a special conference on reshaping skills in the education sector, a dialogue session on educational development and risk management, in addition to several bilateral meetings with education sector leaders from public and private sectors.
