UNESCO IESALC and IBM to develop AI competence framework for higher education

UNESCO International Institute of Higher Education (IESALC) and IBM are collaborating to create an Artificial Intelligence Competence Framework for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. This framework will aim to equip educators and students with AI competencies for ethical and relevant application of AI in education, addressing critical 2030 Agenda challenges and helping education systems prepare for future advancements in the field. At the same time, the framework will address the growing need for practical guidelines on the integration of artificial intelligence into higher education, considering the specificities of certain geographic regions including the Global South. 

Building on UNESCO’s prior work on AI Competency Frameworks for Schools, this project will extend previous insights to higher education through a global consultative process. The framework development for higher education has officially marked its consultation process with three multistakeholder roundtables. These have included stakeholders such as youth leaders, university professors and managers, civil society representative and other UN partners, focusing on the bridge of AI skills, capacities, and competencies development. Following this first consultation, a series of expert consultation and regional focus group consultations will be conducted with students, teachers, managers and relevant stakeholders at higher education level.  

These discussions will explore several key themes, including a reflection on the skills and competencies that teachers and students will need to develop to use AI in an ethical and responsible way. Additionally, engagement with the private sector will aim to bridge the gap between AI competencies developed in higher education and the evolving demands of the global workforce. The resulting framework will be a dynamic and usable tool for higher education institutions, helping them prepare future graduates to be both innovative users and responsible developers of AI technologies.   

Through this consultative process, UNESCO IESALC and IBM aim to jointly gather diverse insights that will shape the framework’s practical application so that it meets the needs of teachers and students worldwide and addresses the support needed from higher education managers, policymakers, private sectors, and other relevant stakeholders.

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