Advancing global dialogue on AI in education at WISE 12 Summit
Faculty, students, and scholars from Northwestern University in Qatar are contributing to global conversations on the intersection of education, technology, and human values at the 12th World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), taking place from November 24–25, 2025, under the theme “HUMANITY.IO: Human Values at the Heart of Education.”
As the world navigates rapid transformations driven by artificial intelligence and digital innovation, WISE 12 explores how education systems can remain deeply human-centered, anchored in empathy, ethics, and equity. The summit brings together global leaders, educators, and researchers to reimagine education’s purpose in an AI-powered era and ensure that innovation continues to serve humanity.
Three Northwestern Qatar faculty members will take part in high-profile panels, contributing to discussions on how AI and emerging technologies are reshaping learning, creativity, and truth. Venus Jin, associate dean for education and director of the Artificial Intelligence and Media (AIM) Lab, will join partner university colleagues in “Rehumanizing Education in the Age of AI: Balancing Empathy, Ethics, and Innovation.” The session will address how higher education institutions can embrace AI without losing sight of the human experience. Jin and her co-panelists will explore how to cultivate empathy and social responsibility while preparing students for an AI-integrated world.
Marc Owen Jones, associate professor in residence, will participate in the panel “Truth, Trust, and Technology: The Future of Knowledge.” Drawing on a collaborative research initiative between WISE, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, and Northwestern Qatar, the discussion will examine the role of AI in shaping public trust and academic integrity. Jones’s insights will shed light on the growing tension between knowledge creation and misinformation in an algorithmic age.
Similarly, Wajdi Zaghouani, associate professor in residence, will contribute to “Can AI be Bilingual in Both Code and Culture? Lessons from Global Classrooms.” This session highlights research conducted in collaboration with the University of Southern California and partners across Colombia, India, the Philippines, and Qatar. Zaghouani’s work investigates how cultural contexts shape the way educators adopt AI tools, emphasizing the importance of locally informed innovation that respects diverse pedagogical values and needs.
Northwestern Qatar’s participation at WISE extends beyond panels to include an original podcast episode titled “AI in Media and Liberal Arts Education.” Hosted by Sam Meekings, associate professor and AIM Lab affiliate, and featuring Professor Spencer Striker, the conversation will explore how AI is redefining creativity, assessment, and learning in the liberal arts. The discussion asks fundamental questions about the irreplaceable value of human curiosity, intuition, and imagination at a time when technology increasingly mimics human expression.
As well as faculty contributions, Northwestern Qatar’s student-run publication, NU-Q Views, will provide on-site coverage of WISE 12, offering student journalists firsthand experience in reporting from one of the world’s leading education summits.
The Media Majlis Museum at Northwestern Qatar will also participate in the summit with an exhibition titled “Media, Meaning, and Human Values.” With works drawn from previous exhibitions, the showcase will highlight how Arab media, from poetry and journalism to television and digital storytelling, connects generations through shared narratives and cultural memory.
The exhibition will also feature projects exploring ethical journalism, Arabic as a language of belonging, and a virtual reality experience that reimagines Palestinian homes as living archives of identity and memory.
WISE 2025 is yet another global platform where Northwestern Qatar is contributing to critical conversations, expanding its impact, and engaging the world through evidence-based storytelling.
