In his keynote speech Secretary-General of The Guild,Jan Palmowski underlined the importance of universities at a time when AI was at the forefront of the European Commission’s political strategy. He highlighted the importance of universities being ready to contribute fully to the necessary research in AI and across the disciplinary spectrum, strengthen the critical awareness of researchers and students, and to foster the appropriate social dialogue to ensure that Europe’s digital transformation does not weaken its societies.

The first roundtable focused on what questions should be asked about the opportunities and challenges of AI. The panellists discussed achieving fair and equitable access to the latest state-of-the-art AI tools for researchers, academic staff and students. Speakers have seen a shift in how AI is used at universities and raised important concerns about how the evolution of AI is affecting the content and skills of what is being taught compared to what is needed in the future. AI's rapid development risks curriculum obsolescence and revising a study programme, in some countries, takes up to six years. Additionally, industry collaboration is important for fostering talent. New research career structures could be envisaged for universities to remain competitive, allowing researchers to collaborate more with industry and making an academic career more attractive.

The second panel focused on maximising the potential of AI in research and how interdisciplinary teams can support each other’s research. Michela Milano, Director of the Alma Mater Research Institute for Human-Centred AI from the University of Bologna, explained that the institute connects teachers, researchers, PhD students and research fellows with competencies and research in AI to build connections between various disciplines. The European Commission has put forward several legislations at the EU level, including the AI Act, which provides regulatory sandboxes for AI compliance and validation, and the European Health Data Space. Panellists also mentioned the need for access to computing power and infrastructure to maximise research. In this context, AI Factories are being set up to provide access to supercomputers.

At the event, speakers and the audience dived into the teaching and learning aspects of AI tools. Participants highlighted the importance of looking beyond the technological aspects of AI adoption. Instead, we should focus on adapting the learning outcomes and redefining assessment practices. The new environment only enhances the need for critical thinking skills – the conversation is not about AI but rather about reimagining the learning process. The pandemic resulted in emergency interventions, but do we perceive AI as an emergency?

Engaging with, rather than embracing AI, is the guiding principle adopted at King’s College London. Martin ComptonLink opens in a new window, Lead for AI and Innovation in Education and Programme, emphasised the need for mindset change and the willingness of leadership to challenge risk aversion. Similarly, bottom-up initiatives led by students and academics on applications of AI were seen as crucial.

Although changes to assessment and study programmes take years, AI has challenged us to redesign institutional practices. Annemarie (Mit) Leuridan, Educational developer at Ghent University, presented the guidelines Link opens in a new windowon the use of GenAI tools in writing tasks, which even encourage responsible use of GenAI in the Master’s thesis. The guidelines challenge the need to master competencies which can be done with AI tools.

Panellists discussed the role of AI in the future structures of universities, including how universities are beginning to incorporate AI for various purposes. While some AI applications, such as chatbots for student administration, are in use, there are challenges in scaling more complex projects due to resource limitations. Panellists emphasised that effective IT service management and communication are essential for maximising available resources. Concern was also raised about retaining talent in academia, as some individuals leave for positions in the industry, seeking more engaging research opportunities. The conversation encourages universities to explore stronger collaborations with industry stakeholders while also reflecting on their role in shaping public opinion and supporting research.