On the occasion of International Education Day on January 24th, experts and teachers from all over the world gathered to explore the role of AI in education, teacher training, digital literacy, and the ethical use of technology in classrooms.
This session provided a platform for collective reflection on how to integrate AI into teaching practices and equip students with the necessary skills for the future.
Mutlu Cukurova, Professor at University College London, opened the discussion by highlighting the growing use of AI in society, and particularly in education. According to him, AI tools can help teachers become more efficient by (1) creating content, (2) developing activities and (3) simplifying administrative tasks. Optimal use of AI by teachers and students could improve outcomes and promote skills development.
However, it is essential that educators keep a critical eye on the content generated by AI. Teacher training and adaptation of teaching practices are also a priority for UNESCO, in order to ensure quality digital education and the effective integration of AI.
Participants raised concerns about teacher training and access to technology in underserved regions. The expert highlighted that frameworks like UNESCO’s AI competency framework for and provide valuable guidance to help educators use AI effectively.
We need to ensure that AI tools improve learning, while preserving the essential human elements of teaching, including the fundamental role of teachers.
The discussion then turned to the risks and challenges of AI in education with Shana Vidal White, Director of CS Equity Initiatives at the . The expert discussed how AI can help teachers encourage critical thinking and creativity in students. She explained that “teachers are still the experts on what works in their classrooms, and AI won't transform education alone”. What matters is how we use it to enrich teachers' pedagogical practices and improve student learning.
For example, AI can be used to support students with disabilities by providing educational adaptations tailored to their needs. However, Shana stressed that AI, while useful, cannot fully integrate the cultural and linguistic diversity of students. These tools run the risk of neglecting linguistic minorities and failing to capture the richness of intercultural interaction. So only human interaction in the classroom can truly promote mutual understanding and inclusive education.
Artificial intelligence must support students in their diversity, without marginalizing them.
The Chief of Digital Learning, AI and IT, underlined the importance of developing ethical frameworks specifically adapted to education, pointing out that “the ethics of AI in education are distinct from the general ethics of AI”. Shitanshu Mishra emphasized the need for global cooperation to reduce the risks associated with unregulated AI, advocating the harmonization of ethical standards at state level between countries. “AI is a global phenomenon,” he said.
While teachers expressed concerns about protecting student data and preventing algorithmic bias, Shitanshu highlighted the importance of equipping both teachers and students with guidance and social and emotional skills, to ensure .
Common frameworks are essential to ensure the responsible use of artificial intelligence in education on a global scale.
The Masterclass highlighted the importance of balancing technological innovation with ethical principles to ensure that tomorrow's education is inclusive and responsive to the diverse needs of students around the world. The future of education is being built today, at the intersection of human and artificial intelligence. This event was organized with the support of the and the collaboration of
