An Industry Colloquium hosted by the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) has highlighted the expanding role of AI in driving transformative developments across various fields.
The colloquium gathered experts from diverse fields such as IT, retail, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, statistics, and public utilities to provide valuable insight into AI-driven innovations and tools, highlighting the AI’s far-reaching impact.
Dr. David A. Schmidt President – AURAK
“This colloquium embodies the belief that knowledge thrives most when applied—when it moves beyond the classroom, lab and studio to solve real-world challenges, and drive innovation. Fostering impactful industry collaborations is not just our goal; it’s a cornerstone of our mission. This Colloquium celebrates that commitment. It is an opportunity to showcase the work happening across our campus, amplified through partnerships with companies, organizations, and innovators. From cutting-edge research in sustainable energy to advancements in AI, our faculty and students are tackling the pressing issues of our time.”
Noura Al Awadi, Microsoft’s Higher Education Industry Lead, stressed upskilling as a key differentiator and highlighted that the switch from classroom to career requires new skill sets, such as adaptability to new technologies, strong communication skills, critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and digital literacy.
Noura also emphasized that AI competencies extend beyond tech roles. Finance professionals need AI analysis skills, marketers require prompt engineering abilities, and even HR specialists must understand AI-driven recruiting tools.
Ahmad Murad, Chief Information Officer at Transmed, shared examples of how AI had transformed the company’s logistics and transportation, warehousing, financial and operational intelligence, sales, product recommendations, and inventory management.
Muhammed Eassa, IT and Mobility Solutions Manager at RAK Transport Authority (RAKTA), highlighted Ras Al Khaimah’s strategy for sustainable transportation by harnessing the power of AI.
Utkarsh Jain, Renewable Energy Manager at RAK Municipality, emphasized the municipality’s strategy for a data-driven, sustainable future, using IT solutions that permit energy management, environment monitoring, traffic control, and industrial operations.
Aghiles Mitiche, Senior Manager of Tech Ops Performance at Julphar, underscored how the company was leveraging AI and Digital solutions for operations excellence, compliance, and safety, with benefits like predictive maintenance, an OEE calculator, a digital twin, smart scheduling, and automated visual inspection.
Ichrak Lafram, Senior Statistical Expert in Data Science at the RAK Statistics Centre, shared how the center was delivering high-quality, timely, and relevant data that empowers government, supports innovation, and ultimately improves people’s lives.
During the session ‘Digital Transformation in Manufacturing Industries: Powered by Academic-Industry Collaboration,’ Nikhil Chaturvedi, Vice President of the IT Department at RAK Ceramics, highlighted the significance of digitalization.
Rashed Iqbal, Chief Data and Technology Officer at RAK’s Investment and Development Office, stressed the role of AI tools in managing assets for the long term on behalf of the government, driving the UAE’s economic transformation.
Dr. Khouloud Salameh, Department Chair/Associate Professor – Computer Science, AURAK, added that, “The colloquium lived up to its motto of being a bridge between classroom and industry. The high caliber of the speakers and the way they put forward their ideas contributed to making this event a grand success.”
