I. Opening Session

8:00 - 9:15 AM: Registration and Coffee

9:15 - 9:30 AM: Welcome and Opening Remarks

• Speaker: Event Organizer / Host

• Topic: The Need for Interdisciplinary Education in Addressing Global Challenges

II. Panel Sessions

Panel 1: 9:30 - 10:15 AM

Panel Title: "Breaking Silos: The Power of Interdisciplinary Education"

Panel Description: This panel will explore how interdisciplinary education fosters innovation and prepares students to tackle complex global issues. The Panel will explore the importance of breaking down traditional academic and professional silos to foster collaboration across disciplines.

Speakers:

1. Academic Leader – TBD

2. Industry Innovator - TBD

3. Government Official - TBD

Moderator - TBD

10:15 - 10:30 AM: Q& A with short Break to prepare for next panel

Panel 2: 10:30 - 11:15 AM

Panel Title: "The Role of Interdisciplinary Research in Innovation"

Panel Description: This panel will discuss successful models and case studies of collaborative research that have led to significant advancements. Panelists will discuss how interdisciplinary research drives innovation and addresses complex global challenges.

Speakers:

1. Academic Researcher - TBD

2. Industry Expert - TBD

3. Government Research Director - TBD

Moderator - TBD

11:15 - 11:30 AM: Q& A with short Break to prepare for next panel

Panel 3: 11:30 - 12:15 PM

Panel Title: Interdisciplinary Innovations: The Impact of AI, Sustainability, and Global Economic Transformation on UAE Knowledge Economy

Panel Description: This panel examines how interdisciplinary approaches drive UAE’s Vision 2031 through sustainable development and economic innovation. Experts will explore the intersection of AI, business transformation, societal changes, and ethical considerations in building a resilient knowledge economy. This panel will also explore the ethical implications and societal impacts of AI through an interdisciplinary lens.

Speakers:

1. AI Researcher - TBD

2. Ethics Expert - TBD

3. Policy Maker - TBD

12:15 - 12:30 PM: Q& A with short Break to prepare for next panel

Panel 4: 12:30 PM - 1:15 PM

Panel Title: Building Tomorrow Now: Integrating Interdisciplinary Skills and Community Perspectives for the Future of Work and Education

Panel Description: This panel will discuss the skills needed for the future workforce and the role of interdisciplinary education in cultivating these skills. This panel embarks on the viewpoints of various stakeholders for the importance of interdisciplinary education and identifies the critical interdisciplinary skills shaping the future job market. The panelists will share their look ahead on: Can interdisciplinary approaches address current and future global challenges.

Speakers:

1. Educational Innovator - TBD

2. Industry Leader - TBD

3. Labor Market Analyst - TBD

4. Stakeholder 1: TBD

5. Stakeholder 2: TBD

6. Stakeholder 3 – TBD

Moderator - TBD

1:15 - 1:30 PM: Q& A and Concluding Remarks

1:30 - 2:30 PM: Lunch Break

III. The CIS Capstone Projects Exhibition – Whole Day

10 AM – 1:30 PM

Theme: Bridging Disciplines, Solving Challenges, Shaping the Future

The Interdisciplinary Capstone Exhibition is a culminating event showcasing the innovative and impactful projects developed by senior students at Zayed University College of Interdisciplinary Studies.
These projects demonstrate the ability of students to apply interdisciplinary knowledge and skills to real-world challenges by integrating research, design and hands-on development.
Visitors will have the opportunity to engage with interactive prototypes, witness live demonstrations, and gain insights into how interdisciplinary collaboration is reshaping the technological landscape.

Key Features of the Exhibition

• Poster Presentations: Students present their research and project development through interactive poster sessions.

• Project Demonstrations: Live demonstrations of capstone deliverables, from digital applications to business prototypes

• Industry & Faculty Engagement: External guests, faculty and peers provide feedback and insights to enhance student learning.

• Interdisciplinary Innovation: Projects span business transformation, computational systems and social innovation, which reflect diverse academic perspectives at the College of Interdisciplinary Studies.

Awards for Top Projects

To recognize excellence, three awards will be presented to the top projects:

The Capstone Exhibition is a platform for innovation, problem-solving and professional development, preparing students for future careers or entrepreneurial endeavours.

IV. Workshops

(2:30 – 4 PM)

A series of mini-workshop ideas to help define how to solve real-world complex problems through an interdisciplinary approach. Participants work in groups on one of the following challenges that would showcase the necessity of interdisciplinary approaches. Participants select a real-world problem (see below) and work backward to outline the interdisciplinary competencies required to solve it.

Workshop Challenge Ideas:

Idea#1: AI-Driven Healthcare Accessibility in Remote Areas
Idea#2: Sustainability Global Challenge: Climate-Adaptive Agricultural Systems
Idea#3: Business Challenge: AI-Enhanced Supply Chain Resilience for Food Security
Idea#4: Social Innovation Challenge: AI-Facilitated Cultural Integration in Diverse Communities

Outcome:

For each Challenge, Participants will provide innovative design for a solution that foster interdisciplinary learning to address the problem effectively.

Awards:

There will be awards for the best solution for each challenge idea.

4:00 - 4:15 PM: Closing Remarks