Briefing report No. 5
by the European Digital Education Hub’s squad on artificial intelligence in education Authors: Gordana Janakievska, Riina Vuorikari, Yann-Aël Le Borgne, Martina Weber, Cristina Obae, Jessica Niewint-Gori, Anne Gilleran and Lidija Kralj.

Education governance refers to how decision making happens in education systems and how education systems allocate roles and responsibilities, determine priorities and designs, and carry out education policies and programmes (OECD, 2019). From an education governance point of view, it is increasingly important to explore and discuss the possibilities, risks and limits of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. Observing
the institutionalisation of new education governance practices that emerge as a result of the integration of digital technologies into education is necessary in order to share best practices and gain knowledge. To discuss these new governance practices, the UNESCO guidance for policy makers for AI in education and European Parliament proposal of AI Act (adopted text, June 2023) are taken into consideration.
A number of AI tools for educational purposes are already in use (see Briefing report No.3 “Use Scenarios and practical examples of AI use in Education”). Many positive examples for effective use start to emerge, however, there are also many concerns for responsible adoption, such as the lack of strategies to specify measures that are conducive to effective use of AI for educational purposes. There is a need for establishing an integrated education governance package for AI that encompasses educational reform, ensuring inclusive, equitable and ethical use of AI. Policies and strategies for using AI in education are central to maximising AI’s benefits and mitigating its potential risks as a new tool to accelerate the progress towards the achievement
of the UN’s sustainable development goal 4 (SDG 4) – Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

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Briefing report ends with Recommendations by the Squad

With AI and the associated data, new norms and new governance models emerge, and new actors enter the education sector while others lose their value in the system. Although national authorities are reacting quickly establishing or improving their AI strategies, it is difficult at the moment to have a clear picture of what this virtual AI-based ecosystem will look like, what governance it will have, and what actors will be involved, but four common areas of concern emerge from the national and regional policies:

• the importance of governance for data and privacy;
• the importance of openness to ensure equal universal access and promote
  transparency;
• curriculum innovation that can address the potential and implications of AI;
• financial support for the effective implementation of AI.

The primary purpose of applying AI in education should be to enhance learning, enabling every learner to develop their individual potential, and policies should reflect and support it. A comprehensive AI strategy is recommended covering interdisciplinarity, humanity, ethics, scalability and sustainability, responsibility, equity and lifelong learning for all.

Read whole report No. 5 “Influence of AI on Governance in Education” and find all other briefing reports by European Digital Education Hub’s squad on artificial intelligence in education in the post “Learning journey for, about, and with AI“.
We also invite you to join the European Digital Education Hub.