- U-AIL 2026 Combines Hands-On Training and Student-Led AI Agent Prototype Development
The Artificial Intelligence Journalism for Research and Forecasting (AIJRF), in collaboration with the University of Dubai, has announced the launch of the University Agentic AI Lab 2026 (U-AIL 2026), which will take place on 25 and 26 November 2026 at the University of Dubai as part of the applied activities accompanying the 6th Artificial Intelligence Journalism World Forum (AIJWF 2026).
Dr. Mohamed Abdulzaher, CEO of the Artificial Intelligence Journalism for Research and Forecasting (AIJRF), which leads and manages the University Agentic AI Lab 2026 initiative, said that U-AIL 2026 aims to develop the practical and applied skills of university students across the Arab region in the field of Agentic AI.
He explained that the Lab is designed to move students beyond the stage of simply using ready-made artificial intelligence tools toward a more advanced level in which they are able to design, build, and manage AI Agents capable of performing specific tasks and addressing real-world challenges across different academic and professional disciplines.
The Lab will be held under the theme:
Learn • Build • Compete
It also carries the main message:
“Creative Ideas: From Student Creativity to AI Agents”
An Applied Training Model
U-AIL 2026 is based on a model that combines applied learning, innovation, and competition.
Participating teams will begin with a specialized hands-on workshop covering the fundamental principles of Agentic AI, including how to design an AI Agent, define its objectives and tasks, build its workflows, and connect it with relevant tools and different knowledge sources.
Following the training phase, teams will move directly into the practical development stage, where they will build an AI Agent prototype designed either to address a real-world problem or provide a practical solution in an academic or professional field.
In the final stage, teams will showcase their projects before a specialized judging panel comprising experts, academics, and practitioners. Each team will demonstrate the concept behind its Agent, how it operates, the value it delivers, and its potential for practical implementation and future development.
Who Can Participate?
The Lab is open to university students from all academic disciplines and is not limited to students in computer science, engineering, or other technical fields.
Each university may nominate one to three teams from different academic disciplines.
Each team will consist of:
3 to 5 students + 1 main academic supervisor
The Lab encourages multidisciplinary teams that may include students from media and communication, business administration, law, engineering, computer science, education, social sciences, health sciences, economics, marketing, and other disciplines.
Key Project Areas
The Lab provides students with the opportunity to develop AI Agents across several applied tracks, including:
- Higher Education and Smart Universities: Developing AI Agents for academic advising, learning support, student services, and university knowledge management.
- Media and Content Creation: Designing AI Agents for research, editing, fact-checking, platform management, and digital content creation.
- Scientific Research and Innovation: Developing AI Agents to support researchers, organize knowledge, analyze studies, and manage research workflows.
- Business and Entrepreneurship: Building AI Agents for customer service, market analysis, marketing, project management, and business idea development.
- Government and Community Services: Developing intelligent solutions to improve services, enhance public engagement, and manage information and operational processes.
- Cross-Disciplinary Applications: Innovative projects that combine multiple fields and introduce new, practical AI-powered solutions.
Learning Outcomes
The Lab focuses on a range of practical skills associated with the new era of artificial intelligence, including designing the identity and function of an intelligent Agent, developing its core instructions, building workflows, connecting it to tools and information sources, and defining appropriate levels of autonomy and human supervision.
Participants will also learn how to test AI Agent prototypes and improve their performance.
In addition, the program emphasizes a number of future-oriented skills, including innovative thinking, teamwork, problem-solving, presentation and persuasion, intelligent solution design, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence applications.
Participation Outcomes
By the end of the Lab, each team is expected to achieve a number of practical outcomes, including:
- An applied understanding of Agentic AI and AI Agents.
- A preliminary AI Agent prototype that can be demonstrated and further developed.
- Practical experience in transforming real-world problems into intelligent solutions.
- A project presented and evaluated before a specialized judging panel.
- Participation certificates for students and participating teams.
- Opportunities to showcase outstanding projects and student innovations during the accompanying activities.
- Direct experience in multidisciplinary teamwork and future-oriented solution design.
Building a Generation Capable of Managing AI Agents
The launch of U-AIL 2026 comes in response to the rapid transition from Generative AI to Agentic AI and the growing need for new capabilities among students and graduates.
The Lab seeks to redefine the traditional relationship between students and artificial intelligence. Rather than positioning students merely as users of AI tools, the initiative aims to prepare them to become designers and managers of intelligent solutions capable of planning, executing tasks, and delivering practical outcomes.
The Lab also represents a model for advancing applied higher education by connecting academic knowledge with innovation, technology, and labor-market needs, while maintaining the central role of humans in guidance, supervision, and critical decision-making.
Registration and Team Nominations
AIJRF invites universities interested in participating to nominate student teams representing different academic disciplines, with each university eligible to nominate up to three teams.
Priority will be given to universities that complete the participation and registration procedures early, due to the limited number of available teams and seats.
Lab Dates: 25–26 November 2026
Venue: University of Dubai – Dubai, United Arab Emirates
For registration, team nominations, and academic inquiries:
About the Artificial Intelligence Journalism World Forum (AIJWF)
The Artificial Intelligence Journalism World Forum (AIJWF) is a global platform and annual forum established to bring together leading academics, media professionals, developers of AI tools and solutions, educational institutions, and government organizations to explore the technologies of the Fourth and Fifth Industrial Revolutions and their impact on the future of humanity, the media industry, and future societies.
The 6th edition of AIJWF will take place on 25 and 26 November 2026, in collaboration with the University of Dubai, under the main theme:
“The Agentic AI and Digital Content Flow: Powering the Global Digital Economy and Governing AI-Driven Content”
The sixth edition will also be held under the slogan:
“Six Years of Impact: Building the Global Ecosystem of Agentic AI and Content Creation”
The first edition of the Artificial Intelligence Journalism World Forum was launched in March 2021, chaired by Professor Farouk El-Baz, the Egyptian-American space scientist and geologist, with the participation of more than 50 universities and research centers, as well as more than 200 researchers and journalists from 20 countries.
The Artificial Intelligence Journalism World Forum (AIJWF) operates under the Artificial Intelligence Journalism for Research and Forecasting (AIJRF), a global platform specializing in media, artificial intelligence, content creation, and future-focused technologies, headquartered in the United Arab Emirates and supported by an international network across several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Russia, India, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, and Algeria.
The Forum also oversees the Global Artificial Intelligence Journalism Index (GAIJI), designed to measure, track, and visualize the performance of media organizations in adopting artificial intelligence journalism technologies for content production, publishing, and promotion.
In addition, AIJWF presents annual awards and initiatives aimed at encouraging AI-powered content creation and strengthening the role of artificial intelligence and emerging technology applications in the development of the Arab content ecosystem.