Exclusive interview with Amal Dimashki, Regional Director, MENAT, Turnitin.

1. What new teaching approaches are educators adopting today? Could you also share some of the strategies institutions are using to build AI literacy within their teaching community?

Education is experiencing a major transformation as artificial intelligence becomes more integrated learning experience. Educators are moving beyond traditional teaching methods and adopting dynamic, student-centered approaches. Blended learning, flipped classrooms, and project-based instruction are quickly becoming ‘the norm’, all supported by digital tools that personalize learning and foster deeper engagement.

A key shift is the rise of formative assessment practices. Continuous, adaptive feedback is changing how instructors support their students. AI platforms now provide real-time insights into individual progress, helping educators offer more tailored guidance. This not only improves learning outcomes but also encourages students to take better ownership of their educational journeys.

Moreover, Institutions are placing strong emphasis on building AI literacy. Professional development initiatives now cover technical skills, ethical considerations, prompt design, and the pedagogical shifts needed to use AI responsibly. Cross-functional committees ensure that policies, practices, and institutional values remain aligned.

AI literacy is being woven into curricula, so that both faculty and students hone the critical skills needed to engage purposefully with emerging technologies. Institutions are also working to promote equity by supporting underrepresented groups and ensuring broad access to essential AI tools.

Strategic partnerships with industry help keep education relevant to workforce needs. The most forward-thinking institutions see AI literacy as an ongoing commitment and foster a culture of  continuous learning.

• Has generative AI accelerated the shift away from traditional educational values? Do you believe reading and writing habits among students are being compromised more than in previous generations?

Generative AI has certainly advanced the pace of change, yet this transformation reflects evolution rather than erosion. The core values of education: critical thinking, creativity, integrity, and the pursuit of knowledge, remain steadfast. What is shifting is the way learners engage with these values.

Concerns about these changes are valid. The convenience of AI-generated content can tempt students to bypass the cognitive ‘creative’ effort essential for meaningful learning. Early research suggests that excessive reliance on AI may constrain creativity and weaken essential intellectual processes. Writing is not putting one word in front of another; it is the process of exploring thoughts, coping with the shades of meaning, and generating original ideas. Sidestepping this crucial process can hinder a student’s intellectual development.

The relationship between humanity  and technology has been an eternal dance, since every generation has faced challenges brought by new inventions. The difference today is the speed and scale of change. Students must now learn to read, write, and critically evaluate AI-generated material while recognizing bias and practicing ethical usage.

AI should not be seen as a threat to traditional educational values but as a tool  that can redefine and reinforce said values. The responsibility falls on educators to ensure that AI serves as a complement to authentic thinking, not a substitute for it. To achieve that, they should provide clear instruction and guidance, set expectations, and develop a robust foundation in both digital and human literacy.

• What new forms of academic misconduct have emerged with digital tools—such as contract cheating, essay mills, and AI-driven paraphrasing?

The digital era has introduced new dimensions of academic mischief (that being misconduct). While the underlying behaviors are nothing new, the tools that facilitate them have become advanced and easily accessible.

Contract cheating platforms now let students outsource assignments with the click of a button. Essay mills, powered by generative AI, now draft customized essays that even the most vigilant detectors, and educators cannot detect. Meanwhile, advanced paraphrasing tools can rewrite existing  content , sidestepping traditional plagiarism detectors with ease.

Collaboration, too, has taken on a new twist. With instant messaging and AI helpers, students can share answers in a matter of seconds or generate responses that they cleverly tweak to mask their true origins.

Tackling these challenges calls for more than detection tools. It requires a comprehensive strategy that combines technology with clear institutional policies, engaging education, and a campus culture rooted in integrity. The goal isn’t just to detect misconduct, but to make it less tempting by inspiring students to choose the ethical path to delivering original thoughts.

• Should educators have access to AI detection tools to identify cheating in the classroom? Given that Gen-Z is often more technologically savvy than their teachers, how can educators stay ahead?

Educators should have access to AI detection tools, while keeping in mind that such tools are but helpful guides- not mere flawless judges. The true value of these resources lies in the transparency and context they offer, helping to start a constructive conversation between educator and student.

At Turnitin, tools such as Turnitin Clarity allow educators to review the entire writing process from start to finish, including: early drafts and potential AI involvement instances. Such features help instructors set clearer expectations, offer more targeted feedback, and grade more fairly.

The availability of detection tools also serves as a deterrent, introducing a sense of uncertainty for students who might consider using AI improperly. However, detection alone is not enough. Educators should invite their students to have open discussions highlighting the importance of learning integrity, responsible AI use, and the value of an authentic learning experience.

As for keeping pace with tech-savvy students, educators need ongoing professional development, clear institutional policies, and supportive learning communities. Inviting students to these discussions can foster a sense of shared responsibility.

The ultimate goal is not to catch students but to guide them toward ethical, skill-building use of technology.

• What does the future of writing look like with the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude? Which types of assessments are naturally more resistant to AI-assisted cheating—such as practical projects, oral evaluations, or in-class writing?

The future of writing will be a partnership between human creativity and AI assistance. While AI can support idea generation, drafting, and editing, the essence of meaningful writing will always rest on originality, critical thinking, and the unique voice of the individual.

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into writing processes, assessment methods must adapt. The following types of assessments are more resilient to AI-assisted misconduct:

1. In-class writing assignments with restricted access to external tools and resources.
2. Oral assessments, including presentations and debates that test real-time thinking.
3. Hands-on projects that measure skills beyond AI’s reach.
4. Assessments focused on drafts and revisions to track progress over time.
5. Reflective tasks that require students to explain their thought process and decision-making.

These approaches prioritizes learning and process rather than the final product. They foster deeper learning by valuing originality, engagement, and genuine understanding.

• And finally, what’s the story behind Turnitin, and where do you see the platform heading next?

Turnitin began with a clear mission: to uphold academic learning in a rapidly changing educational landscape. Over time, it has grown from a plagiarism detection service into a comprehensive learning and integrity platform used and trusted by more than 16,000 institutions in more than 185 countries..

Our goal is to provide educators with the tools they need to promote authentic learning. This includes detecting misconduct, but it also advances transparency, fairness, and continuous improvement.

Looking ahead, Turnitin is enhancing its AI detection capabilities, developing inclusive data models and tools that reveal the entire learning process. We are committed to minimizing bias and supporting a diverse range of learners while ensuring our solutions remain accurate and equitable.

We are also strengthening partnerships across education, industry, and policy to support AI literacy and responsible use. As technology evolves, our focus stays the same: to bridge traditional academic values with new technologies, and to empower educators and students to move forward with integrity and purpose.

Exclusive interview with Helen Kerkentzes, Associate Dean, Executive Education and Managing Director of the LBS Riyadh Executive Education Office

How is executive education evolving to help leaders navigate rapid technological change, especially in the Middle East?

We are constantly updating the content and types of programmes London Business School (LBS) offers, to reflect rapid technological and broader, changes.

We help leaders navigate rapid change through our world-class faculty and their cutting-edge research which is shaping business and the wider world. LBS’ Data & AI Initiative – the destination of excellence for transformative insights on how data science and AI reshape firms, markets and society – equips business leaders, policymakers, regulators and educators with the knowledge and frameworks to adopt and integrate AI responsibly, strategically and sustainably. We translate this research into programmes such as our AI Master Class and Next Generation Digital Strategy, as well as embedding it into our custom programmes.

From your experience leading AI-focused programs, what core skills should today’s executives prioritize to stay competitive?

Through LBS’ AI-focused sessions and our faculty experts, we teach a grounded understanding of AI, the ability to redesign how organisations work, and a renewed emphasis on the human qualities technology cannot replace.

Leaders need a clear understanding of the technology and the ability to see beyond the buzzwords. It is then that they realise that real value doesn’t come from the technology alone, but from rethinking how work gets done, redesigning processes and workflows, in some cases, quite radically.

The more AI advances, the more our faculty also emphasise the importance of judgement, emotional intelligence, empathy, and ethics. These are the areas where machines still struggle and where leaders truly differentiate themselves.

Are there specific challenges unique to the Middle East that slow the adoption of modern leadership practices?

The pace and acceleration of change today challenges leaders the world over. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is embracing this with remarkable appetite.

The Kingdom has three distinct advantages when it comes to driving transformation. First, two thirds of the population in Saudi Arabia are younger than 30 years old. While these young leaders need to be equipped with the right skills, this is an enormous opportunity.

Second, the significant number of women now entering the workforce represent a unique and significant human capital potential for the Kingdom’s transformation and contribution to the economy.

Finally, the size and scale of the Kingdom’s bold and future-ready vision is itself a strength – the appetite to move at pace, meet challenges and invest for the future.

What role should universities and executive education providers play in addressing gaps in critical thinking, digital literacy, and strategic leadership?

At LBS our aim is to be a trusted partner to our clients and their people across the public and private sectors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, developing leadership capability, strengthening talent pipelines, and supporting long-term institutional goals. 

We work closely with employers and government institutions to deeply understand their context and goals. We co-create tailored solutions that draw on LBS’s global expertise, customized to fit their unique contexts and challenges, whether through open enrolment programmes, customized learning journeys, degrees, or online courses. We also capture the transformation in the Kingdom in case studies that we use to teach our global community of leaders.

How is LBS’s Riyadh office contributing to talent development and supporting the region’s shift toward a knowledge-based economy?

Situated in the heart of Riyadh’s historic Diriyah city, the office reinforces LBS’s long-standing partnership of more than a decade with the Kingdom and the country’s growing focus on human capital development.

It allows us to support the people realising the Kingdom’s transformation and next phase of sustainable and knowledge-driven growth, on the ground, where we can be closer and more connected to our clients. Our aspiration is that together we can deliver long-term sustainable success, rooted in the Kingdom’s context and remarkable ambitions.

The Global Investors Forum (GIF 2025) has concluded its sessions in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, with the launch of the Saudi–Georgian Investment Platform, amid a high-profile international presence and strong interest from senior government officials, business leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs.

The closing day witnessed exceptional momentum, underscoring the forum’s standing as a prominent international platform that brings together the visions of GCC and Eurasian countries and reshapes the future pathways of investment cooperation between the two regions. GIF 2025 was held in strategic partnership with EurAsia Gulf, and GI Holding as the main partner, and with the support of the Embassy of Georgia in the United Arab Emirates and the Hong Kong – Middle East Business Chamber. The event is also sponsored by Petra Group, Evaluations, D&B Properties and Royal B.

The second day opened with a welcome address that highlighted the importance of economic dialogue and its role in expanding the scope of partnerships and integration between markets. The session saw contributions from H.E. Salah Al Shamsi, Chairman of Liwa Investment, and Dr Rock Mehanna, Board Member and Strategic Adviser to Evolutions and D&B Properties. The session set the stage for the launch of the Saudi–Georgian Investment Platform, one of the forum’s key initiatives this year.

The key highlight of the closing day was the official launch of the Saudi–Georgian Investment Platform, one of the most significant outcomes of this year’s forum. The announcement was made in the presence of Ahmed Al Dakheel, Chairman of the Saudi Business Council – Central Asian Countries and Chairman of the Saudi–Georgian Business Council; George Svanidze, Founder of Petra Group; and Ahmed Al Areej, Chairman of World Luxury Group. Also in attendance were Dr Tasyir Al Khunaizi, Partner and Deputy CEO of the Georgia Saudi Investment Corporation, and Dr Sadeddine Mneimne, Chairman of AGI Holding and Chairman of the Global Investors Forum.

This agreement marks a pivotal milestone in the economic relations between the two countries, establishing an institutional framework that supports the flow of bilateral investments and enables the implementation of joint projects across key sectors, including tourism and hospitality, health and wellness, agriculture, logistics, and other promising development initiatives.

The Saudi–Georgian Investment Platform is a joint investment venture between Saudi and Georgian businessmen, operating as a commercial entity with clear governance structures that ensure a secure and transparent environment for investors. Ahmed Al Areej, Chairman of World Luxury Group, underscored that the platform aims to strengthen economic and cultural ties between the two countries by launching a ready-made investment portfolio worth hundreds of millions of dollars, encompassing tourism, wellness, service and development projects in both Saudi Arabia and Georgia.

Al Areej outlined that Georgia holds significant natural resources and vast opportunities in property development and wellness projects, in addition to being an emerging and renewed tourism destination. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, leads the regional economy thanks to its huge potential in mining, energy, real estate development and tourism, making the integration of the two economies an ideal opportunity to create joint projects with shared strategic value.

In his address, Dr Sadeddine Mneimne, Chairman of AGI Holding and Chairman of the Global Investors Forum, underlined that the forum was established to serve as a bridge connecting East and West, and as a vision that brings together governments, investors and innovators to build a future shaped not by geography, but by partnerships, courage and shared visions. He added: “My commitment to this forum is clear: to build a platform that does not stop at its current boundaries but continues to evolve and expand until it becomes a global engine for creating opportunities and shaping the economies of tomorrow.”

Dr Sadeddine Mneimne, and Farah Harb, Co-Founder of Innovents ME, announced the new destinations set to host the Global Investors Forum 2026. The upcoming edition will take place across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the Dominican Republic, in an expansion that reflects the forum’s growing international presence and its rising influence on the global investment map.

The launch of the platform came as a direct outcome of two days of discussions at the forum, and as a result of the sessions and bilateral business networking meetings in creating common ground for cooperation among investors and exchange of insightful views between the Saudi and Georgian sectors. The new platform is expected to strengthen cross-border partnerships, ease investors’ entry into high-potential markets and support entrepreneurs and value-added initiatives.

During the closing day, several business institutions and international companies delivered comprehensive presentations on strategic projects and diverse investment opportunities across sectors including technology, finance, professional services, real estate, artificial intelligence, ports and tourism. These sessions enabled participants to explore a wide range of promising investment prospects.

GIF 2025 saw the participation of an elite group of senior international figures, including His Excellency Salah Al Shamsi, Chairman of Liwa Investment; Dr Tasyir Al Khunaizi, Partner and Deputy CEO of the Georgia Saudi Investment Corporation; Aref Al Abbar, Chairman of the Emirates Hobbies Association; and Ahmed Al Dakheel, Chairman of the Saudi Business Council – Central Asian Countries and Chairman of the Saudi–Georgian Business Council.

Other notable participants included George Svanidze, Founder of Petra Group; Ahmed Al Areej, Chairman of World Luxury Group; Dr Arif Anis, internationally recognised leadership expert and recipient of the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE); and Dr Rock Mehanna, Board Member and Strategic Adviser to Evolutions and D&B Properties and ABMC, along with a number of ministers, ambassadors, heads of chambers of commerce, leaders of economic institutions from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Georgia and other countries.

In conclusion, the Global Investors Forum 2025 reaffirmed its leading role in transforming economic dialogue into practical steps and actionable agreements that open new horizons for international investment cooperation. The launch of the Saudi–Georgian Investment Platform stands as a testament to the forum’s ability to shape meaningful initiatives that support the shared economic visions of the Gulf and Eurasian regions. The platform also lays the groundwork for future projects capable of making a tangible impact on the pathways for development and regional integration.