Artificial Intelligence in Education and Training: The European Union’s Policy and Regulatory Framework
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming education and training systems across the European Union (EU), offering new possibilities for personalized learning, intelligent tutoring systems, and data-driven decision-making. Recognizing the potential and challenges of AI, the EU has developed a comprehensive policy and regulatory framework to ensure that its use in education is ethical, inclusive, and aligned with fundamental rights.
The Digital Education Action Plan 2021–2027 is one of the EU’s primary instruments addressing AI in education. It emphasizes the importance of digital competence for both learners and educators and encourages the responsible use of AI tools to enhance teaching and learning processes (European Commission, 2020). In particular, the plan calls for investment in infrastructure, teacher training, and research to support innovation while ensuring data protection and cybersecurity.
From a regulatory standpoint, the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act, proposed in April 2021, establishes a risk-based approach to AI governance. Educational AI systems—especially those used for student assessment or behaviour monitoring—are considered high-risk under this proposal and are subject to strict requirements, including transparency, human oversight, and high data quality standards (European Commission, 2021a). These safeguards are intended to prevent discrimination and reinforce trust in AI applications within educational settings.
In addition, the Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI, developed by the High-Level Expert Group on AI, provide a foundation for ethical AI deployment. The guidelines identify seven key requirements, including human agency and oversight, technical robustness and safety, and accountability (European Commission, 2019). These principles have influenced many EU-funded educational projects that integrate AI, such as those under the Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ programs.
To support member states, the EU also promotes cooperation through networks like European School nets and projects like AI4T (Artificial Intelligence for and by Teachers). These initiatives provide training materials, pilot programs, and evaluation tools to help educators understand AI’s potential and limitations (AI4T Project, 2023). Importantly, the EU encourages inclusive access to AI-enhanced education, aiming to close digital divides among regions and social groups.
Despite these efforts, challenges remain. There is an ongoing need for robust teacher training, updated curricula, and public awareness campaigns. Moreover, the dynamic nature of AI demands agile regulatory responses that balance innovation with ethical considerations. As the European Commission (2021b) points out, education systems must not only integrate AI but also foster critical understanding of it among citizens.
In conclusion, the EU’s approach to AI in education combines innovation-driven policies with regulatory safeguards to ensure that technological advancement supports equity, ethics, and democratic values. The path forward will require sustained investment, cross-sector collaboration, and continuous evaluation to align AI developments with the educational missions of member states.
References
AI4T Project. (2023). AI4T: Artificial Intelligence for and by Teachers. https://www.ai4t.eu/
European Commission. (2019). Ethics guidelines for trustworthy AI. Publications Office of the European Union. https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/ethics-guidelines-trustworthy-ai
European Commission. (2020). Digital Education Action Plan 2021–2027: Resetting education and training for the digital age (COM(2020) 624 final). https://education.ec.europa.eu/focus-topics/digital-education/action-plan
European Commission. (2021a). Proposal for a Regulation laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act) (COM(2021) 206 final). https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/proposal-regulation-laying-down-harmonised-rules-artificial-intelligence
European Commission. (2021b). 2030 Digital Compass: The European way for the Digital Decade (COM(2021) 118 final). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52021DC0118
