Inge Molenaar on AI Panel at Education Summit in Brussels

Role and Impact of AI in Education  

The programme of the 6th European Education Summit consisted of plenary sessions and parallel sessions with high-level panels. NOLAI Director Inge Molenaar contributed to the AI panel "The Future of Education in an Artificial Intelligence-driven World". The main purpose of this high-level panel was to reflect on the role and impact of artificial intelligence in education. In particular, it addressed how AI influences teachers and students, what impact AI has on teaching and learning practices and how it is taken into account in education and training policies in EU Member States.  

Education in an AI-Driven World 

The panel focused mainly on:  

- Increasing understanding of the challenges and opportunities of AI in education and training;  

- Exploring lessons learned and best practices from the introduction and use of AI in education and training;  

- Discussing the role of education and training in equipping the next generation with the skills it needs to thrive in a labour market and society affected by AI;  

- Identifying strategies and policies that can help promote effective AI education.  

Inge Molenaar's contribution focused on the positive impact of AI on education and how countries can develop strategies and policies to promote the responsible and effective use of AI. 

Curious about this session? Watch it back here. 

Addressing Teacher Shortage 

Education Minister Mariëlle Paul participated in the plenary session "Improving the Attractiveness of Teachers' Careers". Central to this session was the question of what needs to be concretely done to make the teaching profession more attractive, as almost all European member states are struggling with a (large) teacher shortage. The session aimed to exchange experiences and best practices. European research has shown that a financial incentive is not enough; it should be linked to better career and development opportunities, better (secondary) employment conditions, and a higher prestige in the teaching profession.   

Curious about this session? Watch it back here.  
 

Call to the EU  

Globally, there are several initiatives on AI in education, such as the AI Act and the AI Coordination Plan. The European Commission also has initiatives that address AI in education. For instance, ethical guidelines for teachers were published in October 2022 on the use of artificial intelligence and data in education. Inge Molenaar appealed to the EU at the European Education Summit: can we combine member states' initiatives on AI and education? We can learn a lot together and from each other!  

About the Summit  

The European Education Summit is the annual flagship event of the European Education Area (EEA). It brings together policymakers from EU institutions and Europe's education and training communities. The key questions that guided the 2023 edition were: 

• How can we improve education and training sectors to benefit everyone?  
• How do EU countries plan to better invest in high-quality education and training in the future?  
• How can we ensure that people are equipped with the necessary skills to thrive in the green and digital transition?  

Policymakers for EU institutions and from EU countries and key stakeholders from the education and training community from across the EU discussed ideas and best practices in response to these questions. Attendees shared new perspectives, innovative solutions and creative approaches to making the European Education Area a reality for all.  

Recordings of all sessions can be viewed here.