Riyadh forum explores AI ethics in higher education

The two-day event brought together over 150 leaders, experts, educational technology innovators, and instructors from 56 institutions in the Kingdom and Middle East. (Supplied)
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Updated 14 November 2023
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Riyadh forum explores AI ethics in higher education

RIYADH: Anthology, a prominent education solutions provider, organized the Anthology Together Middle East 2023 conference in Riyadh.

The two-day event, concluded on Tuesday, brought together over 150 leaders, experts, educational technology innovators, and instructors from 56 institutions in the Kingdom and Middle East.

The conference focused on diverse perspectives and challenges in higher education, including the ethical use of artificial intelligence.

“Saudi Arabia is home to some of the world’s leading higher education institutions. We believe that these institutions, with their commitment to academic excellence, are at the forefront of shaping the future,” said Anthology CEO Bruce Dahlgren.

“Our choice to host this conference in Riyadh reflects our commitment to our clients in Saudi Arabia and across the Middle East, and our dedication to building solutions in direct partnership with our clients and the learners they serve,” said Dahlgren.

During the event, Anthology unveiled Authentic Assessments, its AI-driven feature in Blackboard Learn Ultra, which will launch in December. Utilizing learning objectives and course material, it generates prompts aligned with Bloom’s Taxonomy to foster critical thinking. The feature addresses the evolving challenges of academic integrity in the age of artificial intelligence.

The event highlighted Anthology’s global survey on AI use in higher education, with more than 5,000 participants from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the US, Brazil, Singapore, and the UK.

Report findings highlight the positive approval of AI in Saudi universities, revealing that 49 percent of students believe AI will revolutionize education.

“Saudi Arabian students are among the most frequent users of generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, with 32 percent using them weekly,” according to the report.

The report notes that these students express the highest likelihood of a significant increase in their use of generative AI tools in the next six months.


Red Sea Film Foundation to support Saudi women filmmakers

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Red Sea Film Foundation to support Saudi women filmmakers

  • RSFF, Effat University’s Cinematic Arts School renew partnership to fund, help film projects
  • Agreement comes during Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah

RIYADH: Saudi women film students will have access to funding and industry support after one of the Kingdom’s pioneering cinematic schools renewed its partnership with the Red Sea Film Foundation.

The agreement with Effat University’s Cinematic Arts School aims to empower Saudi women filmmakers through financial and professional support.

It was signed during the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, which is overseen by the foundation.

The partnership offers direct financing from the foundation’s Red Sea Fund and mentoring through the stages of selected student film projects.

The foundation said the support model advances both the artistic quality of the films and the professional growth of the filmmakers.

Faisal Baltyuor, CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation, said the partnership with Effat University “reflects our commitment to empowering emerging Saudi female filmmakers and expanding their opportunities within the industry.”

He added: “Together, we aim to cultivate a new generation of talent that will contribute meaningfully to the future of Saudi cinema, in line with Vision 2030.”

Dr. Haifa Reda Jamal Al-Lail, Effat University’s president, said the partnership aligned with the university’s mission to “empower women and provide students with the skills, resources, and industry access to excel as filmmakers and storytellers.”

The agreement comes as Saudi women play an increasing role in the Kingdom’s burgeoning film industry, which has grown rapidly under the Vision 2030 reform program.

The Effat University’s Cinematic Arts School was set up in 2013 in Jeddah through an academic partnership with the University of Southern California.

It was the first film school in Saudi Arabia providing a bachelor’s degree in film production, direction, and animation.

It has played a pioneering role in developing cinematic education in the Kingdom, nurturing creative talent and promoting women’s participation in the film industry.

Red Sea Film Foundation’s partnership with the school is part of its Women in Cinema initiative.