Doha: The Digital Learning and Online Education (DLOE) Office at Qatar University (QU) held the second annual forum under the patronage of Vice President for Academic Affairs at QU, Prof. Ibrahim Al Kaabi, and in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), under the title “The Future of Digital Educational Content in the Era of Artificial Intelligence.”
According to Qatar News Agency, the forum brought together a distinguished group of experts, researchers, and entrepreneurs from academic institutions, international organizations, and both start-ups and global technology companies. It served as a platform for discussing the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in shaping the future of digital education.
The event was inaugurated by Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies at QU, Prof. Aiman Erbad, who emphasized the significance of the forum in advancing the university’s digital transformation agenda in alignment with Qatar National Vision 2030. He also praised the support of UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris and its Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen in Doha, which have been instrumental in laying the foundation for a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing the quality of higher education.
The forum’s program featured a series of interactive lectures and panel discussions focusing on three central themes: Visions, Strategies, and Governance, Challenges in Developing AI-Powered Digital Educational Content, and Innovations, Applications, and Empowerment in Digital Educational Content.
A collaborative session with UNESCO’s Regional Office and the Al-Fakhoora Program under the Education Above All Foundation explored major challenges facing higher education in the region and how AI and open resources can provide effective solutions.
Additionally, the DLOE Office introduced the Digital Teaching Competency Framework, designed to support faculty training and development. Presenters from Google showcased practical models on using cloud computing and AI technologies in educational and administrative contexts.
On the sidelines of the forum, an interactive workshop was held on the legal frameworks and intellectual property rights related to open educational resources, particularly those developed using AI tools.
Panel discussions included voices from educational technology startups, who offered insights on developing traditional teaching methods and leveraging the role of generative AI into the educational landscape.
For his part, keynote speaker from the College of Law at QU, Dr. Ezzedine El Mahjoub, presented a model of his research with Stanford University on the potential and challenges of employing AI to analyze Islamic Jurisprudence. The forum concluded with a panel session bringing together representatives of global companies and startups, discussing the pivotal role of the private sector in supporting the digital transformation in higher education and the prospects for the future development of educational technologies.