{
  "id": 15407121,
  "title": "Don’t just pick a university that helps you pass, choose one that builds skills, say experts at Edufair Abu Dhabi",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/dont-just-pick-a-university-that-helps-you-pass-choose-one-that",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T12:03:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/uae/education/dont-just-pick-a-university-that-helps-you-pass-choose-one-that-builds-skills-say-experts-at-edufair-abu-dhabi-1.500714997"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Experts at Edufair Abu Dhabi have advised students to choose universities that foster skill-building rather than merely facilitating passing grades. With the increasing prevalence of AI and other technologies in higher education, students must learn to use these tools wisely while developing critical skills such as independent thinking, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. This necessitates a paradigm shift in how universities approach education, with a greater emphasis on interactive teaching, practical assessments, and flexible study options.\n\nProf. Amir Zeid, Dean of Thumbay College of Management & AI in Healthcare, highlighted the challenge posed by AI tools that can generate reports and answer questions. Universities must adapt assessments to ensure students comprehend the content rather than simply submitting work produced with technology. Interactive classrooms with frequent progress assessments, rather than relying solely on final assignments, are crucial. Moreover, giving students access to AI tools is essential, as students now expect professors to teach beyond textbook information.\n\nDr Rajneesh Mishra, Dean of the School of Humanities, Arts, and Applied Sciences at Amity University Dubai, suggested alternatives to traditional written assignments, such as case-study discussions and oral examinations, to prevent students from merely using generative AI to submit reports without learning. Practical learning is also vital for preparing students for their future careers. Prof. Zeid emphasized that universities should teach AI applications across disciplines, enabling students to adapt to new technologies throughout their lives.\n\nInternships in health-tech companies, hospitals, and healthcare organizations provide real-world experience and enable students to apply their knowledge. Universities must align curricula with industry requirements and incorporate relevant skills, even though such changes can take time. Human skills remain essential in the university experience, as AI cannot teach empathy or leadership. Prof. Zeid and Dr Mishra stressed that university life should foster human interaction, collaboration, and the development of soft skills through extracurricular activities, mentoring, academic advising, student clubs, and events.",
  "summary": "As AI and other technologies become more common in higher education, students need to learn when and how to use them without becoming dependent on them, experts said at a panel discussion at Edufair Abu Dhabi. Universities have a key role in helping students use technology with judgement while building independent thinking, communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills. This calls for a…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}