CMU-Q Convenes First-Ever GCC Information Systems Symposium

Doha, Qatar: Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) hosted the inaugural GCC Information Systems Symposium in Education City. This landmark symposium is the first event of its kind, gathering IS educators and scholars from across the Gulf region. CMU-Q is a Qatar Foundation partner university.

Dean of Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, Michael Trick noted the timeliness of the symposium,“As artificial intelligence tools become more prevalent, it is essential for educators in the region to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the road ahead. We are educating future leaders, industry professionals and researchers, and together we can foster regional collaboration and guide the conversation about the critical role of Information Systems in the GCC.”

The one-day event brought together 70 participants, including scholars from each of the GCC countries, as well as Morocco, Turkiye and the United Kingdom. Following the event, there was a strong desire expressed by participants to continue the tradition and formalize an Information Systems community across the GCC.

The global pivot toward AI is demanding strategic, ethical, systems-level expertise. IS professionals are the critical link between powerful AI capabilities and human impact, and graduates must have deep knowledge of data management, security, governance, and effective integration of these technologies into society.

Teaching Professor of Information Systems at CMU-Q, Nui Vatanasakdakul initiated this regional collaboration and served as chair of the symposium,“It is imperative that we come together as experts across the region to define the future of Information Systems. This symposium is a crucial platform where we transform local insights and academic research into actionable, collaborative strategies that will drive and accelerate the GCC's digital and AI transformation.”

The organising committee included distinguished academics from across the Gulf Cooperation Council region: Salman Aljazzaf from Kuwait University, Kuwait; Jumanah Alshehri from Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia; Eman Alyami from Saudi Electronic University, Saudi Arabia; Mona Alyami from Taif University, Saudi Arabia; Xin Huang from CMU-Q, Qatar; and Mazen Shawosh from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia.

A centrepiece of the symposium was a Dean's Panel Series discussion moderated by Michael Trick. The conversation delved into how IS scholars, researchers, and industry professionals can ensure that AI is delivering measurable, ethical value. The panel convened important perspectives in IS research and education from across the Gulf:

Executive Director of the Qatar Computing Research Institute, Ahmed Elmagarmid is a distinguished leader who has served on national and international committees shaping research, innovation, and AI adoption in healthcare, genomics, infrastructure, and public policy.

“As organisations and educational institutions adopt AI, they often discover that their data, processes, and systems require further preparation to fully understand their needs. By using structured indicators organized across clearly defined pillars, IS professionals can systematically assess organisational readiness.

This approach ensures that AI is implemented effectively and aligned with actual operational requirements.”

Assistant Vice President for Information Technology, Kuwait University, Mohammad Almarzouqis an expert in public sector innovation, e-government, and large-scale project management within the Arab world. He said that in the public sector, adopting AI requires more than just understanding the technology. It also means understanding how the government works.

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