In a world where AI is reshaping every industry, schools face a new challenge: how do we prepare young people, especially girls, to thrive in an AI-driven future? In this episode of Dare to Disrupt, host Dare sits down with Abeda, Senior Director of Digital Learning at GEMS Wellington International School Dubai, GEMS Education AI Excellence Fellow, and the visionary behind the Girls in AI initiative, to explore what leadership truly looks like in the EdTech and AI era.

Together, they unpack how schools can bridge the gap between industry expectations and classroom reality. Abeda shares how the Girls in AI programme is opening doors for young women through mentorship, industry engagement, and authentic exposure to technology, empowering them to lead, innovate, and imagine what is possible. She also discusses how parents can be supported through cybersecurity awareness and practical guidance to help keep children safe online as they navigate digital learning spaces.

The conversation also explores her inclusive leadership approach, the ethical use of AI in schools, and how well-designed learning experiences can enhance critical thinking. Abeda discusses how she supports teachers not just through training but through an AI Core Team model that creates a ripple effect across the school, ensuring every teacher feels confident, supported, and ready to drive change.

We also delve into how enterprise, innovation, and sustainability are important pillars, that align with the National Agenda, and how we can integrate them our practices to ensure that transformation is intentional, coherent, and future-focused.

This episode is a powerful reminder that the future of education is not simply about adopting technology. It is about courageous leadership, equity of opportunity, and preparing every learner to thrive in an AI-powered world.

In this thought-provoking episode of Dare2Disrupt, Dare Pitan sits down with Victor Sosanya, keynote speaker, founder of The Valuable Community, and member of the Foundation for Education Development’s Learners Stakeholder Council. From advising policymakers at No.10 Downing Street to mentoring young professionals through his peer-to-peer network, Victor is redefining what leadership and purpose mean in an AI-driven world.

Together, Dare and Victor explore how AI is reshaping education, employability, and leadership, and why the next generation’s greatest advantage isn’t just technical skill, but the ability to stay human in a digital age, and why empathy, curiosity and critical thinking are vital skills these days.

If you’re passionate about employability and the future of workforce or you are an educator, EdTech leader, researcher, or policymaker, this conversation is packed with insights you can use right now to shape your approach.

Share your thoughts and leave a review at www.d2dpodcast.com, subscribe to Dare to Disrupt on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube for more conversations on AI in Education, EdTech innovation, and the future of education, and don’t forget to follow us on social @d2disrupt for bonus clips and resources.

Stay curious, stay disruptive!

As AI becomes deeply woven into higher education, one question keeps surfacing: What are we really assessing in this new era of learning?

In this episode of Dare to Disrupt, host Dare Pitan is joined by Dr. Asim Bashir, Lecturer and Assessment Coordinator at a British University in Dubai, to explore how assessment, academic integrity, and teaching practices are evolving in the age of AI.

Together, they unpack why some students lean more heavily on AI than others, the realities behind higher education’s perceived “slow” adoption of technology, and how governance and policy shape responsible innovation. Dr. Bashir shares insights on moving from product-based to process-focused assessment and designing tasks that strengthen critical thinking. He also mentioned is research findings about building confidence among academics through clarity, community of practice and collaboration.

This conversation is a candid, forward-looking reflection on how educators can embrace AI and rethink assessments in this ever-evolving education landscape.

If you’re an educator, EdTech leader, researcher, or policymaker, this conversation is packed with insights you can use right now to shape your approach to AI in academic research and teaching.

Share your thoughts and leave a review at www.d2dpodcast.com, subscribe to Dare to Disrupt on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube for more conversations on AI in Education, EdTech innovation, and the future of education, and don’t forget to follow us on social @d2disrupt for bonus clips and resources.

Stay curious, stay disruptive!

As AI becomes a staple in classrooms and universities, a big question emerges: Can technology that writes, solves, and creates coexist with the principles of honesty, trust, and fairness that define education?

In this episode of Dare to Disrupt, I'm joined by Dr. Zeenath Reza Khan, Associate Professor at the University of Wollongong in Dubai and one of the leading voices on academic integrity and responsible AI. Together, we explore how AI is reshaping assessment, why traditional exams may no longer reflect authentic learning, and what integrity looks like in a digital-first era.

From ethics and policy to the psychology behind why students turn to AI, this conversation dives deep into the future of fairness, creativity, and trust in education.

Key Discussion Points

• What academic integrity means in the age of AI
• The line between AI support and misconduct
• Bias and other ethical consideration in AI
• Having an open and honest conversation with students
• Preparing educators to lead with integrity, not fear
• Is it time to start redesigning assessment?

If you’re an educator, EdTech leader, researcher, or policymaker, this conversation is packed with insights you can use right now to shape your approach to AI in academic research and teaching.

Share your thoughts and leave a review at www.d2dpodcast.com, subscribe to Dare to Disrupt on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube for more conversations on AI in Education, EdTech innovation, and the future of education, and don’t forget to follow us on social @d2disrupt for bonus clips and resources.

Stay curious, stay disruptive!

This episode uncovers why so many researchers believe AI will transform education and research, yet so few actually use it.

I’m joined by Dr. Tosin Ekundayo, co-author of Evaluating the Influence of Artificial Intelligence on Scholarly Research: A Study Focused on Academics.

He made a bold statement, urging the ethical and responsible use of AI in higher education for both students and faculty. In his words: “Why should we plan the future of education for students without involving them, knowing full well that we might not even be part of that future?”

Together, we break down:

• Why academics trust AI’s potential but hesitate to adopt it.
• The real barriers: fear of unknown, data privacy, and bias.
• How AI can complement, not replace human researchers.
• Data protection, data management and open-source research
• Why we must involve students in the conversation now

If you’re an educator, EdTech leader, researcher, or policymaker, this conversation is packed with insights you can use right now to shape your approach to AI in academic research and teaching.

Share your thoughts and leave a review at www.d2dpodcast.com, subscribe to Dare to Disrupt on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube for more conversations on AI in Education, EdTech innovation, and the future of education, and don’t forget to follow us on social @d2disrupt for bonus clips and resources.

Stay curious, stay disruptive!