Institute of AI Education launches at York St John University, aiming to help schools explore AI responsibly
Education leaders have celebrated the launch of the Institute of AI Education at York St John University in the UK.
The Institute of AI Education aims to help schools navigate AI in a practical and responsible way, with the launch event covering AI literacy, fairness and inclusion, and support for students and teachers.
The organization says it plans to become a “collective hub” and will work with schools, universities, and sector partners to develop new guidance, professional development, and practical support for educators.
At the launch event, Co-founders Narinder Gill and Dr Beth Lane led a session exploring the establishment of the Institute and how collaboration can help create clear purpose and strong ethical foundations when using AI in education.
Other speakers at the event included Laura Knight, Founder of AI consultancy Sapio, Liz Birchinall, Reader in Education at the University of Manchester, and Victoria Hedlund, Founder at AI bias consultancy GenEd Labs.
“A key message from the launch was that AI in education should remain human-centred, supporting teachers and learners rather than replacing them,” the Institute of AI Education said in a statement.
“The strong turnout and enthusiastic conversations throughout the day reflected the sector’s growing interest in working together to understand both the opportunities and challenges AI presents. Representatives from the Department for Education were also in attendance and were particularly impressed by the pioneering work already taking place in early years and primary settings.”
The Institute says it is planning further events and partnerships following the launch. It has also recently announced its first PhD candidate as Lisa Ponter, who has secured a place through York St John University’s scholarship programme.
