VCUarts Qatar Organizes Panel Discussion on the Impact of Generative AI in University Education

The Library at VCUarts Qatar recently organized a panel discussion on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the context of teaching and learning in higher education. 

Titled ‘Generative AI in Teaching and Learning: An Education City-wide Faculty Panel Discussion’, the panel comprised of faculty from Qatar Foundation partner universities in QF’s Education City. The event was held at VCUarts Qatar. 

The panelists were Rawan AlSaad, Ph.D., Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University – Qatar; Chadi Aoun, Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar; Jörg Matthias Determann, Ph.D., VCUarts Qatar; Sam Meekings, Ph.D., Northwestern University in Qatar; James Cleon Olsen, Ph.D., Georgetown University in Qatar; Jesse Payne, VCUarts Qatar; Mary T. Queen, Ph.D., Texas A&M University at Qatar; and, Spencer Striker, Ph.D., Northwestern University in Qatar.

The discussions were moderated by the organizers of the event, Jacqulyn Ann Williams, Ph.D., Head of Teaching, Learning, and Strategic Initiatives and Associate Professor, Library, and Nicole Abiad, Writing Center Coordinator, Library, from VCUarts Qatar. 

The well-attended event saw the discussants touch on the challenges and advantages of using generative AI within academics. 

Amir Berbić, Dean of VCUarts Qatar, opened the session, “The integration of AI in education is not merely a trend; it is a transformative force that has the potential to redefine how we teach, learn, and interact within our academic environments. Together, we can explore how to harness the potential of AI to enrich teaching and learning, and ultimately, to foster a more effective and equitable educational experience for all.”

Some of the topics discussed were the existence, or lack, of university policies regarding the use of generative AI within classrooms, student disclosures with regard to the use of AI in academic projects, the opportunities that AI creates in university teaching and learning, the impact of AI-related university policies on individual faculty’s teaching, the relationship between AI, copyright and Intellectual Property rights, AI and data privacy and liability, and how data is used by AI tools, to name a few.

Williams said, “The EC-wide faculty panel discussion on generative AI in teaching and learning was a successful multiversity event and a powerful reminder of the uniqueness of the Education City model.  The 130+ faculty attendees who joined us and enriched our discussion with their thoughtful questions and contributions made the session even more impactful.

“During the event, faculty and experts with different disciplinary expertise and experience discussed institutional policies, ethics, opportunities, challenges, and their approaches to using AI in the classroom.  Key takeaways from the discussion include developing students’ critical AI literacy skills, discussing responsible usage of AI in the classroom to ensure students are equipped with the knowledge to use AI ethically, and incorporating AI as a collaborative tool, focusing on how AI can augment human creativity, originality, and ingenuity.”