The Department of Political Science and International Affairs (PSIA) at the University of Balamand launched its new lecture series, Beyond the Mic: Shifting Sands of 21st Century Politics, on April 15, 2025, with an insightful talk by AI Prompting Expert and UOB alumna Joziane El Hawi.

The event, organized by Dr. Noura Assaf, marked the first in a three-part series focused on how students, academics, and practitioners can adapt to today’s rapidly changing political environment. In her lecture titled “The Power of AI: Where is Our World Heading?”, Ms. El Hawi explored the transformative role of artificial intelligence in politics, from opinion shaping and democratic accountability to its growing presence in academic research. She said: “To shape this (AI) future, we must become part of the generation that actively constructs meaning, not just as passive recipients of AI-generated content, but as informed contributors to its evolution.”

She urged the audience to become “active contributors to the evolution of AI” rather than passive users, emphasizing that understanding how AI works is now essential for anyone engaging in the political and academic arenas. Comparing the rise of AI to the invention of the car, she stressed that “we either learn how to drive it, or risk crashing into the future unprepared.” Ms. El Hawi also highlighted the importance of using AI responsibly and critically, pointing to the need for decolonizing dominant narratives in political research and ensuring that AI tools don’t reinforce existing biases.

The session underscored the University of Balamand’s role as a forward-thinking institution committed to preparing students for the ethical and intelligent use of emerging technologies in shaping tomorrow’s world.





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