UAEU carries out an AI agenda and expands research and academic programs

The United Arab Emirates University continues to strengthen its leadership in the field of artificial intelligence through a comprehensive institutional agenda focused on integrating AI technologies into the university's education system, research, and operational processes.  This strategic framework aims to support national innovation and achieve digital transformation goals.

Prof. Ahmed Ali Alraeesi, Vice Chancellor of the UAE University, emphasized that the UAEU places artificial intelligence at the core of its future vision and seeks to build an integrated system encompassing education, research, and community service, to prepare a national generation capable of leading the digital future. He added that the agenda reflects the university's commitment to systematically integrating artificial intelligence into all components of the university environment, through institutional policies and the appointment of a Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer to oversee the implementation of high-impact initiatives in this field.

The "Artificial Intelligence Agenda 2025–2031" includes an ambitious roadmap that enhances the university's research and educational capabilities in this vital field, develops multidisciplinary solutions to address societal challenges, and expands academic influence locally and internationally.

Over the past five years, UAEU researchers have published more than 1,000 Scopus-indexed peer-reviewed AI-related studies in health, engineering, environment, education, and social sciences. The current projects include studies on evaluating the performance of neural networks in monitoring concrete structures, predictive models for hospital stays for lung cancer patients, and systems for measuring student attention in classrooms. Other research includes Interpretable AI for classifying autism behavior, smart tools for addressing childhood obesity, predicting birth weight, and data analysis for flood assessment.    

In the field of environment and sustainability, the UAEU is conducting research projects that include rainfall forecasting using machine learning, hybrid models for predicting ozone concentrations, and groundwater monitoring using statistical analysis and neural networks. The project reflects the university's commitment to producing impactful research that enhances the resilience and sustainability of natural resources. 

The university strengthens its global research productivity through effective partnerships with leading international institutions in the field of artificial intelligence, including the University of Malaya, Western Sydney University, Texas A&M University, the University of Arizona, and Sunway University. These partnerships contribute to the development of research and the enhancement of academic outcomes.

On the academic front, the university has decided to adopt artificial intelligence as a graduation requirement for all students starting in the fall semester of 2025/2026, to prepare students for the demands of the digital economy. The programs include a Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, a Bachelor of Science in Statistics and Data Analysis, and a Major in Artificial Intelligence, in addition to a number of UAEU academic staff-developed courses.   

The university offers the "Introduction to Artificial Intelligence" course, which provides an overview of the history, applications, and societal impacts of AI for all majors. It also offers the "Fundamentals and Applications of AI" course, which focuses on AI concepts and technologies such as robotics, computer vision, and audio processing, with applications in the fields of smart cities, healthcare, and cybersecurity.          

For applied sciences, the university offers the "Artificial Intelligence in Engineering" course, which covers predictive maintenance and optimization of industrial systems, and the "Artificial Intelligence in Medicine" course, which focuses on smart technology-assisted diagnosis, drug development, personalized medicine, and the clinical AI-associated ethical issues.

Through these programs and initiatives, the UAE University seeks to prepare graduates with technical proficiency and ethical awareness, capable of effectively contributing to national development and strengthening the university's position as a leading academic and research institution in the fields of artificial intelligence and digital innovation.