AUS Alumna Renad Turki: Empowering Educators through AI Innovation

AUS Alumna Renad Turki: Empowering Educators through AI Innovation

From aspiring engineer to AI-in-Education strategist, AUS alumna Renad Turki, (CEN, Bachelor 2013, MSc. 2016) has built a career at the intersection of technology, education, and empowerment. Her journey reflects how a passion for lifelong learning and a desire to inspire others can redefine the boundaries of both teaching and technology.

A Transformative AUS Experience

Renad’s story begins at the American University of Sharjah, where she spent more than six years completing both her undergraduate and master’s degrees in engineering. “My time at AUS was truly transformative,” she recalls. “It shaped not only my academic foundation but also my mindset toward lifelong learning.”
What began as a dream of becoming an engineer evolved into a deeper calling toward academia.
Inspired by her professors in the College of Engineering, Renad discovered a passion for teaching and research that led her to accept a graduate assistantship and pursue advanced studies.

Bridging Education and AI

While working as a teaching assistant during her graduate years, Renad realized how much she enjoyed mentoring students. That experience ignited her commitment to education and laid the foundation for her current focus using artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance learning. “After seven years in academia, I decided to specialize in AI in education, where technology and teaching truly intersect,” she says. Today, as an AI strategist and trainer, Renad helps schools and educators integrate AI tools in meaningful and ethical ways. Through EdTech Academy, she designs workshops and projects that demonstrate how AI can save teachers time, personalize learning, and make classrooms more engaging.
“In practice, I help educators see AI as a partner, not a threat,” she explains. “My goal is to make AI
integration practical, ethical, and inspiring for every educator, regardless of their subject or
experience level.”

Changing Misconceptions and Empowering Teachers

Renad often encounters misconceptions about AI in education. Some teachers fear that using AI
requires advanced technical skills, while others worry it could encourage cheating. Through her
training programs, she helps educators see AI as a tool that enhances, not replaces, their creativity
and empathy. “When used wisely, AI becomes a powerful teaching partner,” she notes. “It can take over repetitive tasks and provide feedback, but it can never replace a teacher’s human touch.”

Championing Women in AI

Beyond her work in schools, Renad is passionate about increasing women’s representation in AI and technology. “AI isn’t just for coders; it’s for everyone,” she emphasizes. “Women from every field can use AI to enhance their work and their daily lives.”
Through initiatives like the Girls in AI program, organized in collaboration with GEMS Education,
Renad inspires young girls to see themselves as future creators and leaders in technology. She is also an active member of Women in AI, where she has spoken at major events such as GITEX 2024 and the Dubai Future Foundation.