Qatar’s HBKU launches UNESCO chair on digital behavior
New initiative examines how emerging technologies shape human behavior, ethics, and digital well-being worldwide
DOHA, Qatar (MNTV) — Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) has inaugurated a UNESCO Chair dedicated to Digital Technologies and Human Behavior, reinforcing its role in global social innovation and ethical technology research.
Based within HBKU’s College of Science and Engineering, the Chair will examine how digital tools influence human conduct, focusing on promoting responsible technology use, digital well-being, and positive societal change, according to Qatar News Agency.
Its research agenda includes addressing issues such as online addiction, cyber harassment, and the spread of misinformation through evidence-based and impact-oriented studies.
The initiative enhances HBKU’s position as a global forum for dialogue on the social consequences of rapid digital transformation, building on the university’s prior work in ethical technology governance, including its leadership in international discussions on artificial intelligence ethics.
By integrating scientific inquiry with behavioral research and policy engagement, the UNESCO Chair aims to support governments, international organizations, and academic institutions in shaping inclusive and sustainable digital societies.
The launch event, held at Education City’s Minaretein, underscored alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in education, decent work, institutional inclusion, and inequality reduction.
Addressing the audience, UNESCO Chairholder Dr. Raian Ali highlighted the growing influence of social media, artificial intelligence, and mobile technologies on communication, identity, and mental health, emphasizing the need for partnerships and research-driven policymaking to mitigate harmful digital impacts.
UNESCO’s Regional Director for the Gulf States and Yemen, Salah Khaled, described the Chair as a timely milestone, noting that UNESCO Chairs serve as critical links between academic knowledge and public policy in responding to ethical and social challenges posed by technological change.
The event also featured a keynote lecture and panel discussion exploring how advances in artificial intelligence, particularly generative AI, can enhance well-being while also increasing dependency, with experts calling for more balanced, intentional, and human-centered technology use.
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