The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the University of Technology and Applied Sciences in the Sultanate of Oman held a workshop on, “Role of AI Ethics in Education”, under the theme, “Building a Responsible Education Future”. The Workshop was held at the University’s headquarters in Muscat, on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, as part of the activities of ICESCO Chair for Artificial Intelligence Ethics, with the aim of exploring the potential benefits and risks of AI use in the educational context, holding rich discussions with experts in the field, and identifying the best relevant practices.

The workshop opened, with an address by Dr. Musab Al-Rawi, Director of the ICESCO Chair for Artificial Intelligence Ethics, who stressed the importance of using AI in a responsible and ethical manner that upholds the values of the Islamic world. Subsequently, Mr. Mohamed Hedi Shili, Head of the Legal Affairs and International Standards Department at ICESCO, spoke about the rapid growth in the AI market and the significance of its use in education, and stressed the need to enhance Arabic digital content, highlighting ICESCO’s efforts in this field.

For her part, Dr. Haddy Jatou Sey, Head of the Education Sector, talked about the unprecedented opportunity that AI offers with regard to improving education, stressing the need to address the ensuing ethical challenges and bridge the technological gap, especially in African countries.

Dr. Ahmed Musa Al Balushi, Director of the Science Department at the Omani National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, outlined the Omani Ministry of Education’s efforts to develop education, while Dr. Salim Al Maqbali, Head of the Research Department at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, highlighted the promising opportunities that AI offers to students. Likewise, Dr. Asmaa Mehdioui, from ICESCO’s Legal Affairs and International Standards Department, emphasized the importance of developing clear ethical guidelines for integrating AI into education systems.

The Workshop features a number of scientific presentations discussing pioneering experiences relevant to the use of AI to promote education.