The Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) organized a two-day national workshop titled Artificial Intelligence and Higher Education: Relevance and Responsible Innovation, aimed at bringing together experts and educators to explore the opportunities, challenges, and ethical dimensions of AI in higher education. The workshop seeks to enrich academic dialogue, promote responsible AI adoption, and encourage collaboration toward an inclusive and innovation-driven AI future.

Dr. Dinesh Singh, Vice Chairperson of the Higher Education Commission (J&K UT), was the Chief Guest at the inaugural session. Emphasizing the inevitability of AI in shaping human life, he noted that AI would soon become an integral part of daily living and highlighted the importance of creating broad, socially beneficial AI models.
Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Prof. Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, underscored the relevance of aligning AI advancements with the national vision of “Make in India” and “Make for India,” stressing the need for indigenous technologies tailored to societal needs and local challenges. Prof. A. H. Moon Dean Academic Affairs highlighted the National Education Policy 2020 and its emphasis on AI X, stressing the importance of integrating AI across disciplines to foster multidisciplinary learning, innovation, and future-ready skills.
The workshop featured lead talks by eminent experts, with the technical sessions delivered by several distinguished national and international speakers, including Prof. Atulya Nagar (Liverpool Hope University, England); Mr. Vedant Ahluwalia (Vice President, Stanford Angels); Prof. Shobha Bagai (Cluster Innovation Centre, University of Delhi); Prof. Millie Pant (Department of Applied Mathematics and Scientific Computing, IIT Roorkee); Ms. Neha Pushkarna (Senior Journalist, Hindustan Times); and Mr. Vikram Bhattacharya (Head of Financial Services, Public Policy, ASW India).
The programme also included several panel discussions, including one on “AI in Education,” chaired by Prof. Dinesh Singh and co-chaired by Prof. A. H. Moon. That offered interdisciplinary insights on integrating AI into teaching, learning, and institutional strategy. The workshop is partly sponsored by JK Bank and the Syed Mir Qasim Memorial Trust.