Artificial intelligence can transform education—but responsible educators will shape how that transformation takes place.

The Pedagogical Training and Academic Development Center at the University of Zakho is pleased to announce the integration of a one-week theme, Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education, into its pedagogical training modules.

The initiative was first introduced through R&D Module R14, and will now become a permanent component of the Center’s future modules. This step reflects the University’s commitment to preparing educators for the opportunities and challenges of a rapidly changing higher-education environment.

The theme was delivered by Dr. Masoud M. Hassan, an AI expert at the University of Zakho. 

For the current round, the theme focused specifically on Research and Development (R&D), highlighting the use of AI in Educational research, Academic writing and productivity.

With the special focus on literature review, research design, data analysis, identifying research gaps, and improving research productivity.

Through practical activities, demonstrations, discussions, and research-based tasks, participants explored how AI can support research while preserving academic integrity, privacy, critical thinking, and human scholarly judgment. 

The program will go beyond learning how to use AI tools. Participants will also develop the ability to evaluate AI critically, understand its limitations, protect academic integrity and privacy, and use emerging technologies responsibly and ethically. These priorities are consistent with international approaches that combine practical AI skills with critical evaluation, ethics, privacy, and responsible pedagogical integration.

Commenting on this initiative, Ms. Shlair Ahmed, Director of the Pedagogical Training and Academic Development Center, stated:

“Our goal is not simply to teach educators how to use AI tools. We aim to develop educators who can use AI critically, creatively, ethically, and purposefully. By integrating AI into our modules, we are strengthening the capacity of our educators to respond confidently to the future of higher education while keeping pedagogy, academic integrity, privacy, and human judgment at the center.”

In future rounds, the theme will be tailored to the specific needs and requirements of each module, ensuring that AI applications remain relevant, purposeful, and connected to the module’s learning outcomes.