TL;DR:
- GCC countries are embracing AI technology to transform their education sectors, while other regions have concerns over its impact.
- The GCC is at the forefront of preparing their economies for AI integration and utilization, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia leading the charge.
- Universities in the GCC are using technology to improve education outcomes and establish themselves as leaders in the global marketplace.
- The GCC is embracing e-learning and edtech, with the UAE leading the charge with the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence.
- The GCC is preparing its population for a future in which AI plays a larger role with vocational training programs and initiatives to provide a skilled domestic workforce.
- Bahrain is recognized for promoting equitable opportunities in technology, while the UAE’s Ministry of Education has launched an innovation strategy to prepare for the future of work.
Main AI News:
The advent of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has generated a buzz globally, with entities, both public and private, weighing their potential applications. However, while some regions have raised concerns over the impact of this cutting-edge technology, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are embracing it as a means to transform their education sectors.
The November 2022 release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT sent shockwaves through the intellectual world, igniting a firestorm of excitement and concern. This sophisticated tool, based on a large language model and trained on vast amounts of written data, generates human-like responses to prompts. ChatGPT’s capabilities, from writing essays and poetry to passing written exams, have caused concerns over plagiarism and cheating among educators. Some schools and universities in countries such as Australia, France, India, and the US have even banned its use.
However, the GCC nations see generative AI as a valuable tool in their broader AI strategies, particularly as they look to diversify their economies beyond hydrocarbon revenue. By tapping into this technology, they aim to improve education outcomes for students and train a skilled workforce for future job markets. The GCC’s forward-thinking approach to education and technology is poised to position them as leaders in the global marketplace.
Unlocking the Potential of AI in Education: GCC Leads the Charge
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to drive significant economic growth in the coming years, with consultancy PwC estimating that AI could contribute as much as $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is poised to reap substantial benefits from this transition, with an estimated $320 billion expected to accrue to the region by 2030.
Several GCC countries are at the forefront of this movement, having taken proactive steps to prepare their economies for the integration and utilization of AI. The UAE was the first country to appoint a minister of state for AI in 2017, signaling its commitment to supporting investment in the sector. Meanwhile, Qatar published its National AI Strategy in 2019, and Saudi Arabia outlined its National Strategy for Data and AI in 2020. The Kingdom has set an ambitious goal of attracting $20 billion in local and foreign investment in the field by 2030.
Universities in the GCC are also making waves for their innovative use of technology to improve educational outcomes. King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia rose to the 101st place in the Times Higher Education ranking of global universities and received a top score for UN Sustainable Development Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. Saudi Arabia claimed five spots on the list of the top 10 Arab universities, alongside Qatar University, the University of Sharjah, UAE University, and Abu Dhabi University.
By embracing AI in education, the GCC countries are positioning themselves as leaders in the global marketplace and setting the stage for a thriving, innovative future.
Adopting Innovative Learning Models: GCC Leads the Way in EdTech and AI
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the education landscape, catalyzing a shift towards e-learning and the proliferation of tech options in the GCC region. The region’s embrace of technology has made it a prime case study for the integration of AI in education, with the public sector in the MENA region, including education, expected to receive a contribution of $59 billion from AI by 2030.
To fully realize the benefits of AI in education, the collaboration between public and private entities is crucial. As Mansoor Alaali, President of Ahlia University in Bahrain, noted, “all economic and social stakeholders must collaborate, discuss and convene on the next steps needed to ensure that higher education institutions continue to be a catalyst for economic development.”
The UAE is taking a bold step forward in this direction, with plans to use AI chatbot tutors to transform the education sector. The AI tutors will not replace teachers but instead generate content to support student learning. Schools in the country are already using online education tools to supplement in-person instruction.
In higher education, the UAE is leading the charge with the inauguration of the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence. As the world’s first graduate institution dedicated to AI research, the university graduated its first class in early 2023. Meanwhile, the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance has launched its metaverse campus, providing students and professionals with an immersive learning experience supported by cutting-edge technology.
With its innovative approaches to edtech and AI, the GCC is setting the standard for education in the digital age and positioning itself as a leader in the global marketplace.
Preparing for the Future of Work: GCC Trains Tomorrow’s Workforce
As AI and automation continue to transform the job market, there is growing concerned about job loss in a range of professional categories. However, industry experts argue that the use of AI will also create new jobs in the design, development, and maintenance of AI programs. In the MENA region, an estimated 45% of existing job opportunities could be automated today, just below the global average of 50%.
In response, GCC countries are implementing vocational training programs to prepare their populations for a future in which AI plays a larger role. These initiatives could also help meet local content requirements by providing a skilled domestic workforce to fill positions that are often held by expatriates.
For example, Saudi Arabia aims to train 20,000 data and AI specialists by 2030 to support its goals in the field. To achieve this, the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology launched a specialized program for undergraduates in November 2022 with the aim of training talented students to become leaders in AI. In March 2023, Bahrain’s Nasser Vocational Training Centre announced its Smart Coders initiative, which aims to train approximately 2,000 adults annually in computer coding, with the goal of training 10,000 Bahrainis as programmers by 2027.
Bahrain has also received recognition for promoting equitable opportunities in technology. The country ranked first in national female e-inclusion policies, female digital skills training, and STEM education in Meta’s 2022 Inclusive Internet Index compiled by Economist Impact. The country’s Economic Recovery Plan prioritizes the ICT and digital economy, seeking to build a digital infrastructure and local workforce to attract international tech companies.
The UAE’s Ministry of Education has also taken steps to prepare for the future of work with the launch of its innovation strategy, including a platform called DisruptED. This platform will allow ministry employees to share ideas for innovation and is intended to help students and professionals across disciplines to embrace new skills and ways of working as the digital economy evolves.
Conlcusion:
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are embracing artificial intelligence (AI) as a means to transform their education sectors and position themselves as leaders in the global marketplace. With the estimated $320 billion expected to accrue to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region from AI by 2030, the GCC countries have taken proactive steps to prepare their economies for AI integration and utilization.
The GCC is also at the forefront of tech and e-learning, with the UAE leading the charge with the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and AI chatbot tutors. The GCC is preparing its population for the future of work with vocational training programs, such as Saudi Arabia’s goal to train 20,000 data and AI specialists by 2030 and initiatives to provide a skilled domestic workforce. With its innovative approaches to edtech and AI, the GCC is setting the standard for education in the digital age and attracting investment in the field.
