Griffith College Hosts Final AI4VET4AI Event, Showcasing Expert Voices on AI Policy.

On 4 October, Griffith College’s Business and Innovation Hub hosted the final event of the AI4VET4AI series, a European-funded project focused on AI in education and training. This event was a fantastic opportunity to bring together leading experts to dive into the future of AI policy in Europe, with speakers discussing the key regulations that will shape how AI is integrated into the education sector.  

We were fortunate to have an incredible lineup of speakers for the final event. Prof Alan Smeaton from DCU provided valuable insights into how AI, education, and policy intersect, while David Korowicz from the Geneva Global Initiative shed light on the societal risks AI presents, particularly around economic stability, and infrastructure resilience. 

Neil McDonnell, CEO of ISME, presented on the AI Act and implementation in practice and the resulting effect for SMEs in Ireland, focusing on the critical issues of bias and discrimination. Labhaoise Ní Fhaoláin, a PhD researcher at UCD, shared her thoughts on how AI policies can strike a balance between innovation and ethics, particularly in vocational training. Sana Khan, our own lecturer, and Data Protection Officer at National Broadband Ireland, rounded off the discussions with an in-depth look at AI’s legal implications, especially concerning privacy and data protection in education. 

We are incredibly grateful to all our speakers for sharing their expertise and contributing to such a meaningful and timely conversation. 

The AI4VET4AI project has been a significant and important initiative, bringing together over 26 institutions from 11 European countries, including universities, vocational training centres, and businesses. Throughout a series of events, the project has looked at several aspects of AI, such as its impact on higher education, human resources, and diversity. The goal has been to explore how AI can be used responsibly while encouraging innovation in the education sector. 

This final event not only focused on the policy it also highlighted how AI is becoming increasingly important in reshaping education and training. As classrooms continue to adopt AI tools, having clear, ethical, and forward-thinking policies will be crucial to making sure we maximise the benefits while managing risks like bias and privacy issues. Griffith College’s involvement in these vital conversations shows its leadership in AI and education innovation across Europe.