WISE On Air

Can AI ever replace human creativity?

This episode features Nada Elkharashi, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer at Electric Skin, as we dive into the evolving relationship between creativity, sustainability, and artificial intelligence. Nada shares powerful reflections on education, design, and how artists can thrive in the age of intelligent machines without losing their human touch.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction

01:12 – AI's Impact on Creative Industries

04:07 – The Irreplaceable Core of Human Creativity

07:20 – Rethinking Design Education for the AI Era

10:58 – Sustainability Reimagined Through AI

13:50 – Teaching the Unteachable: Human-Only Creative Skills

17:23 – Hope for Human Creativity’s Future

🎓 About WISE On Air:

WISE On Air is a podcast where we seek insights from the world's leading minds on the future of education and beyond. Brought to you by WISE, the global platform for education innovators.

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Website: wise-qatar.org

Twitter: twitter.com/WISE_Tweets

Youtube: @WISEQatar

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In this episode of WISE On Air, we sit down with Dr. Sohaira Siddiqui, Executive Director of Al-Mujadilah Center & Mosque for Women, to explore a bold, values-based approach to education.

From reviving traditional knowledge to balancing critical thinking with community, this conversation reimagines what meaningful learning can look like.

🎓 About WISE On Air:

WISE On Air is a podcast where we seek insights from the world's leading minds on the future of education and beyond. Brought to you by WISE, the global platform for education innovators.

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If you enjoyed this episode, would you consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It really helps out the show and we would greatly appreciate it.

Website: wise-qatar.org

Twitter: twitter.com/WISE_Tweets

Youtube: @WISEQatar

Instagram: @wiseqatar

Facebook: facebook.com/wiseqatar/

Linkedin: bit.ly/2JKThYf

What if the answers to today’s climate crisis were rooted in centuries-old traditions?

In this special edition of WISE On Air, recorded live from Earthna Summit 2025, we sit down with Dr. Grethel Aguilar, Director General of the IUCN, to explore the powerful role of indigenous knowledge in reimagining sustainability and education.

From traditional ecological practices to the impact of social media and technology on youth learning. This episode is a deep dive into the intersection of legacy, innovation, and the future of our planet.

In this episode of WISE On Air, Host & CEO of WISE, Stavros Yiannouka delves into the transformative power of relationships in education with Isabelle Hau, author of "Love to Learn" and Executive Director of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning. As educational systems worldwide continue to prioritize test scores and academic achievement, Hau presents compelling evidence that early loving relationships might be the true foundation of learning and thriving.

Isabelle shares insights on:

-How relationships physically shape brain development and learning capacity

-The growing "relational crisis" affecting children's development and what's driving it

-Where technology and AI fit within relationship-centered learning

-Practical approaches to prioritize connection in schools, homes and communities

Whether you're an educator, parent, or policymaker, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on what truly matters in learning. Join us as we explore the science behind human connection and consider how "relational intelligence" might become a new metric for success in education.

Purchase Isabelle's book, 'Love to Learn': https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/isabelle-c-hau/love-to-learn/9781541703773/

Resources mentioned in the discussion:

Pretend play research (Sansanwal, 2014): https://www.researchgate.net/publication/266081256_Sansanwal_S_2014_Pretend_play_enhances_creativity_and_imagination_Journal_of_Arts_and_Humanities_31_70-83

2024 Phone usage study: https://itc.ua/en/news/study-people-checked-their-phones-an-average-of-205-times-a-day-in-2024-every-5-minutes-excluding-sleep/

Childhood neglect impact on brain development: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2014/06/neglect

Early life adversity and neural development: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2023-04894-001?doi=1

Neural synchrony between students and teachers: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abq4786

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If you enjoyed this episode, would you consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It really helps out the show and we would greatly appreciate it.

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Instagram: @wiseqatar

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Linkedin: bit.ly/2JKThYf

WISE On Air #108 is a special chaptered edition of our education podcast, recorded live during the I AM QF 30th Anniversary Celebration.

Brought to you by WISE — the global platform for innovators in education — this episode brings together 13 insightful conversations with students, educators, researchers, and leaders from across Qatar Foundation and beyond.

From classroom transformation and labor market shifts, to AI, equity, access, and the future of Education City — this episode explores the most pressing questions and bold ideas shaping the future of learning.

In this episode of WISE On Air, host of this episode and Director of Research & Policy at WISE, Selma Talha-Jebril talks to Manos Antoninis, Director of the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report, to discuss the recently launched 2024/5 GEM Report and the UNESCO-World Bank Education Finance Watch 2024.

Manos brings decades of expertise in global education policy and leadership, offering critical insights into the most pressing issues, including severe funding disparities, political influence on education systems, and the growing need for empowered educational leaders. He sheds light on how we can overcome these challenges and push toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 for inclusive, equitable education worldwide.

Read the UNESCO GEM Report: https://bit.ly/4bfK2Lo

Read the Education Finance Watch 2024 Report: https://bit.ly/4kjtdDB

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If you enjoyed this episode, would you consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It really helps out the show and we would greatly appreciate it.

Website: wise-qatar.org

Twitter: twitter.com/WISE_Tweets

Instagram: @wiseqatar

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Linkedin: bit.ly/2JKThYf

00:00 Introduction: The State of Global Education

00:27 Welcome to Wise On Air

00:43 Leadership and Education Investment

01:58 Interview with Manos Antoninis

02:34 Stagnation in Global Education Progress

08:01 The Role of School Leaders

15:54 Autonomy in School Leadership

21:32 Education Finance Disparities

24:15 Global Financial Systems and Education

32:24 The Role of International Organizations

38:29 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of WISE On Air, we dive into an unprecedented global research initiative exploring artificial intelligence's impact on higher education.

Through conversations with research leads from six institutions across five continents, we uncover how different regions are approaching AI integration in universities and preparing students for an AI-powered future.

Our guests share insights on various critical aspects of AI in higher education, from curriculum integration and faculty development to ethical considerations and workforce preparation. From the halls of an Ivy League institution in the United States to a pioneering university in Kazakhstan, from Spain to India, and beyond - each perspective adds a unique dimension to our understanding of this transformative moment in education.

As part of WISE's latest research initiative, these institutions are collaborating to produce one of the most comprehensive global studies on AI in higher education. The findings, set to be presented at the WISE 12 Summit in Fall 2025, promise to provide actionable insights for education leaders worldwide.

Join us for this enlightening discussion that bridges cultural contexts and institutional approaches to one of education's most pressing challenges: adapting higher education for the age of artificial intelligence.

Learn more about the WISE & IIE Global Research Consortium: https://www.wise-qatar.org/wise-works/wise-research/

Nazarbayev University: https://nu.edu.kz/

Universidad de los Andes: https://www.uniandes.edu.co/

BITS Pilani: https://www.bits-pilani.ac.in/

Ashesi University: https://ashesi.edu.gh/

Universidad Camilo José Cela: https://www.ucjc.edu/

University of Pennsylvania: https://www.upenn.edu/

Subscribe to WISE On Air: pod.link/wiseonair

Thank you to our participating guest speakers:

- Natalia Lara - Universidad Camilo José Cela, Spain

- Joseph Kwame Adjei - Ashesi University, Ghana

- Jagat Sesh Challa - BITS Pilani, India

- Elaine Sharplin - Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan

- Peter Eckel - University of Pennsylvania, United States

- Mirka Martel - International Institute of Education

00:00 Introduction to the WISE and IIE Global Research Consortium

00:36 Overview of the Research Initiative

01:44 Exploring AI Integration in Higher Education

02:35 Institutional Approaches to AI

04:34 Challenges and Opportunities in AI Adoption

05:37 Global Perspectives on AI in Education

23:15 Ethical Considerations and Risks of AI

30:41 Focus Areas of the Research Consortium

42:51 Conclusion and Future Outlook

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If you enjoyed this episode, would you consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It really helps out the show and we would greatly appreciate it.

Website: wise-qatar.org

Twitter: twitter.com/WISE_Tweets

Instagram: @wiseqatar

Facebook: facebook.com/wiseqatar/

Linkedin: bit.ly/2JKThYf

In this episode of WISE On Air, we explore the intersection of innovation and education with Alexander Nicholas, Executive Vice President of Learning & Society at XPRIZE. Drawing from his experience leading educational initiatives at the Gates Foundation and now at XPRIZE, Alexander shares insights on how prize competitions can catalyze transformative solutions in education.

Alexander discusses XPRIZE's unique approach to tackling global challenges, from their first space competition to their current work across seven domains including education. He explains how their "brain trust" methodology brings together diverse experts to frame problems and design prizes that drive real impact. Through examples like their global learning prize that reached millions of students in Tanzania, we explore how prize competitions can validate educational technology and create new standards for efficacy.

The conversation delves into Alexander's vision of democratized education, where high-quality learning becomes "demonetized, delocalized and moving into the fabric of society." He shares thoughtful perspectives on how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies might help realize this vision, while emphasizing the importance of keeping solutions globally relevant and contextual.

Join us as we examine how prize competitions could help transform education systems and create more equitable access to learning opportunities worldwide.

Learn more about XPRIZE: https://www.xprize.org

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If you enjoyed this episode, would you consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It really helps out the show and we would greatly appreciate it.

Website: wise-qatar.org

Twitter: twitter.com/WISE_Tweets

Instagram: @wiseqatar

Facebook: facebook.com/wiseqatar/

Linkedin: bit.ly/2JKThYf

At age eight, Zoya Kalinsky was instructed to leave the classroom by her math’s teacher who told her she can only come back when she "stops twitching." - a condition outside of her control. Today, that same girl stands confidently in the United Nations Economic and Social Council chamber, addressing global leaders about her experience, the need to solve the bullying issue once and for all, and how we can transform our education systems to achieve that.

In this episode, we meet Zoya at thirteen, fresh from speaking at the UN's Summit of the Future and launching ambitious initiatives as Skyway's youth ambassador. The Learning Economy established the Skyway initiative to address the growing need for a modernized approach to learning, as many existing systems struggle to keep up with the demands of an evolving, interconnected global society. Zoya is one of many students pioneering this novel learning model of change.

But Zoya isn't just talking about change – she's living it. Between addressing world leaders and developing youth councils, she composes piano pieces about resilience, creates artwork that challenges bullying, and advocates for young voices in rooms where decisions about their future are made - often without their consent.

In this episode WISE Director Elyas Felfoul sits down with Zoya to explore how she’s experiencing a whole new way of learning with new technologies that could help create a system where no child feels left behind. Together, they unpack what it really means to transform education in an AI-powered world, and why having young people at the decision-making table isn't just important – it's essential.

Subscribe to WISE On Air: https://pod.link/wiseonair

Learn more about Zoya:

1. Instagram @zoyakalinsky

2. Website www.zoyakalinsky.com

3. UN anti-bullying speech Nov 2023 https://youtu.be/y_zbZH4fZaU?si=dcGWNS5P-ESh980S

4. Closing remarks and speech for AGIP Youth Power Summit Sept 2024 https://youtu.be/LZOp2X5_1O8?si=UkgnVmLv83LMOysQ

5. Blue Gallery NYC piano performance 2024 https://youtu.be/JoKVmlEWyGw?si=Iv9giXtNx5rn7Z1q

6. Skyway fundraising dinner NYC 2024 https://youtu.be/WPeX83dCdMA?si=zFkFLWND3YL-l_3m

7. iLead Hybrid School press release https://ileadschools.org/ilead-hybrid-7th-grader-zoya-kalinsky-addresses-united-nations/

00:00 Introduction to Skyway and Its Mission

00:45 Meet Zoya Kalinsky: A Journey from Bullying to Advocacy

03:30 Zoya's Homeschooling Experience and Advocacy

09:44 The Role of AI and Technology in Education

16:14 Zoya's Involvement with International Organizations

17:40 The Importance of Youth in Decision-Making

21:13 Traveling and Learning: A Homeschooling Perspective

24:38 Art and Music: Tools for Advocacy

29:05 Future Plans and Upcoming Events

Purchase The Disengaged Teen at https://rebeccawinthrop.com

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In this episode of WISE On Air, we dive into a critical conversation about teen disengagement with Rebecca Winthrop, co-author of the newly released book "The Disengaged Teen: Helping Kids Learn Better, Feel Better, and Live Better."

Rebecca, who serves as a senior fellow and director of the Center for Universal Education at Brookings, brings fresh insights from her groundbreaking research, which reveals a startling disconnect: while parents think 60% of kids love school, the reality is that by 12th grade, only 25% actually do. Her book, which launched with conversations featuring Gayle King and Drew Barrymore on Oprah Daily, offers a powerful framework for understanding how teens engage with learning and what we can do to help them thrive.

Through extensive research involving hundreds of interviews with students, parents, and educators, Rebecca and her co-author Jenny Anderson identify four distinct modes of engagement that shape how teens approach learning. More importantly, they provide practical strategies for parents and educators to help teens develop what they call "explorer muscles" - the skills needed to navigate an increasingly complex world.

The timing couldn't be more crucial. With rapid technological changes and evolving workplace demands, helping teens become engaged learners isn't just about academic success - it's about preparing them for a future where adaptability and self-directed learning are essential skills.

To learn more about Rebecca's work and upcoming book events in New York, DC, and LA, visit rebeccawinthrop.com.

Subscribe to WISE On Air on your preferred podcast app: https://pod.link/wiseonair

00:00 The Need for Explorer Skills in the Modern World

00:43 Introduction

02:05 Rebecca Winthrop's Personal Motivation and Book Overview

04:09 Defining and Understanding Student Engagement

10:13 The Four Modes of Engagement

14:46 Examples of Successful Explorer Mode Schools

23:01 Pathways to Achieving Explorer Mode

28:04 Balancing Different Modes of Engagement

30:24 Balancing Achievement and Mental Health

30:51 The Need for Explorer Skills in the Modern World

32:35 Teachers' Role in Fostering Engagement

33:33 Practical Strategies for Teachers

36:14 Professional Development for Teachers

38:42 System-Level Changes in Education

42:36 Parents' Role in Supporting Engagement

47:47 Encouraging Autonomy and Agency in Kids

53:04 Rethinking Success and College Admissions

01:00:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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