Dubai Heights Academy in Dubai has partnered with MIT Media Lab in the United States to reshape the future of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. This collaboration, which involves a significant investment of AED 160 million, focuses on research and development. It allows MIT to review and refine project materials based on feedback from students and teachers at the academy.

The initiative provides Dubai Heights Academy students with hands-on experience in AI, emphasizing ethical considerations and practical applications. Rob Hitchings, Vice Principal, and Hayley Burrows, a Primary Computing teacher, expressed their pride in the school’s contribution to AI in education. They noted that students at Dubai Heights Academy are receiving a unique opportunity to influence the future of AI, stating that it is “an extraordinary thing for our school to be playing its part in the future of AI in education worldwide.”

The partnership began through strong ties between the leadership teams of Dubai Heights Academy and MIT Media Lab, both of which shared a vision to leverage education as a force for good. Alison Lamb, Principal of Dubai Heights Academy, highlighted her role in developing this partnership since her appointment in 2019. She emphasized the importance of preparing students for a future where AI plays a central role, noting that the school aims to create an AI literacy program that can be shared with other educational institutions globally.

Cynthia Breazeal, a professor at MIT Media Lab, outlined the RAICA (Responsible AI for Computational Action) project, which is designed to enhance AI fluency among students. The project combines computational thinking with ethical design principles, utilizing a diverse array of teaching methods including personal robots and coding. Breazeal emphasized that as the world becomes increasingly reliant on technology, it is crucial for students to be literate in AI to engage responsibly with these tools.

The RAICA project is part of a broader initiative known as RAISE (Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education), which aims to redefine education in the age of AI. The curriculum at Dubai Heights Academy encourages students to be responsible consumers and producers of AI technologies. With the advent of tools like ChatGPT in 2022, the curriculum has been adapted to help students interact with AI using simple language, making it accessible without requiring coding skills.

The collaboration also extends to literacy development through the use of social robots, such as the JIBO robot, which was introduced in 2022. This project aims to enhance language skills in young learners and has generated significant interest due to JIBO’s unique ability to foster relationships with its users. The ongoing partnership with MIT Media Lab continues to evolve, with plans to expand and innovate as Dubai Heights Academy prepares to open its new Secondary facility in September 2024.