The English Department and the College of Science and General Studies are thrilled to announce that our Alfaisal Student Writing Team has won first place in the first Inter-University Writing Competition, hosted by Prince Sultan University on April 15.
The team of three Alfaisal students—Layan Mohammed Essa, Bannah Kseibi, and Yazan Rawas Kalahji—competed against teams from prestigious universities across Riyadh to win the challenging competition. Under the guidance of their English department coaches, Dr. Alma Villanueva and Ms. Elizabeth Marnell, the team trained rigorously in the weeks leading up to the competition.
Without the use of phones, AI, or internet, the team placed first by writing the best argumentative essay within a two-hour time limit using only the provided printed sources to support their argument. The judges placed particular value on well-organized and well-supported essays grounded in scientific research.
This year’s competition prompt focused on the ethics of artificial intelligence. The Alfaisal team responded with a compelling essay titled “The Hidden Ethical Responsibilities of AI Programmers and Users,” which argued that ethical accountability in AI development and use must be shared by both creators and consumers.
The Alfaisal Writing Team earned top honors, receiving the first-place trophy, a cash prize of 3,000 SAR, and certificates of achievement. Their victory reflects both their individual talents and their remarkable teamwork, commitment, and resilience.
Congratulations to our Alfaisal University Writing Team for this outstanding achievement!
