UAE Ministry of Higher Education Collaborates with Microsoft to Advance AI in Education

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR)  has announced a strategic collaboration with Microsoft  to leverage Microsoft Azure and cloud AI capabilities for the research and development of prototype AI agents aimed at enhancing higher education in the UAE, in alignment with national priorities.

Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to positioning the UAE as a global hub for innovation and advanced research. He stated:

“The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research is committed to strengthening the UAE’s position as a leading global hub for innovation and advanced research, in support of a sustainable, resilient and future-ready nation. Partnerships, such as this collaboration with Microsoft, reflect this commitment by deepening engagement across the higher education and scientific research ecosystem and ensuring that research and innovation outcomes are closely aligned with national priorities.”

– Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, UAE

The collaboration will focus on developing four AI prototype agents:

• Lifelong Learning and Skills Progression Agent: Supports career and skills navigation through in-demand skills and learning pathways.
• Faculty Enablement and Course Co-Creation Agent: Assists faculty in updating curricula and co-designing courses and credentials with industry.
• Student Personalized Learning Agent: Provides personalized learning support, enabling students to progress at their own pace.
• Research Mission Alignment Agent: Connects research to national missions and real-world challenges, enhancing societal impact.

As part of the initiative, MoHESR and Microsoft will explore further opportunities to utilize Microsoft Azure and cloud AI, engage stakeholders—including faculty, students, and industry—in a participatory design approach, and identify potential technical collaboration areas in data analytics, machine learning, and AI.

“Agentic AI represents a transformative opportunity for the public sector—especially in education—by enabling dynamic, personalized learning experiences and driving operational efficiencies. For the UAE, embracing agentic AI in education will not only empower students and educators to adapt and thrive in a rapidly evolving world, but also position the nation at the forefront of global innovation, preparing future generations to lead and succeed in a knowledge-based economy.”

– Amr Kamel, General Manager, Microsoft UAE

The partnership underlines MoHESR’s commitment to fostering private-sector collaborations rooted in innovation, with the aim of creating an interconnected ecosystem that equips students with the skills needed to contribute to a knowledge-based economy and the future labor market.