The United Arab Emirates (UAE), especially Dubai, is one of the hottest data center markets in the Middle East. With a virtual explosion of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT) among others, there is a growing demand for compute power and that in turn has contributed to an exponential demand for data centers.
Dubai is determined to keep up with this demand, not just in terms of creating adequate digital infrastructure, but also ensuring a steady stream of skilled professionals, especially those who are adept with AI, to keep the wheels of this juggernaut rolling. With this in mind, and the wider need to stay on top of the AI game, Dubai is focusing on ensuring its universities and those in the Arab world stay in lock-step with all things AI, by making it an inalienable part of university curriculum.
The University of Dubai and the Artificial Intelligence Journalism for Research and Forecasting (AIJRF) have announced the launch of the Arab Index for Artificial Intelligence in Universities (AIU). This is reportedly the first global index of its kind, monitoring and analysing the integration of artificial intelligence technologies into the “humanities and theoretical sciences” within Arab universities.
The AIU is an applied indicator that measures the extent to which artificial intelligence techniques are integrated into the “humanities and theoretical sciences” within the most prominent Arab universities according to the global indicators in that regard (QS). The AIU includes 6 main indicators: educational curricula, university professors, smart laboratories, student skills, and finally the scientific research index, with a total of 18 sub-indices.
Dr. Eesa Al Bastaki, President of the University of Dubai, the main partner in launching the index, explained, “The current index aims primarily to research, monitor and develop the educational process in general in Arab universities, and to enhance the skills of the academic team, students and graduates, to keep pace with all the rapid technological changes year after year.”
Dr. Mohamed Abdulzaher, President of AIJRF, the institution that came up with the idea of the index and the main partner in its implementation, said, “The Arab Index for Artificial Intelligence in Universities (AIU) aims primarily to motivate higher education institutions in the Arab region to integrate intelligence technologies, tools and solutions.”
Dr. Saeed Aldhaheri, President of the Arab Index for Artificial Intelligence in Universities (AIU), pointed out the importance of the index in supporting and motivating Arab universities to integrate AI into all aspects of the educational process, saying, “In the Arab region, we have many great growth opportunities in artificial intelligence, and from here came the idea of the index to enhance and ensure that the general strategies of Arab universities are consistent with the strategies of their governments in developing and modernizing education systems in line with global trends in this regard, and their compatibility with advanced technology.”
According to Professor Seham Nassar, Deputy Director of the Arab Index for Artificial Intelligence in Universities (AIU), “The index now has a large team working in 10 Arab countries, representing many leading universities, educational and governmental entities.”
