AI Aware Universities: Rethinking Artificial Intelligence in the Classroom

Generative artificial intelligence is reshaping education and Bard College Berlin is working to address this growing influence through the AI Aware Universities project. Led by the Center for Information, Democracy, and Citizenship (CIDC) at the American University in Bulgaria, the initiative unites five European universities to examine AI’s impact on academia and establish informed guidelines for its use.

“The idea is to give students a chance to talk about how generative AI is being used in well-meaning ways. And then, to figure out how it can be ethically applied in our context,” explains Dr. Jeffrey Champlin, the coordinator of this project at BCB.

At BCB, this project has taken shape through a series of events involving students, faculty, alumni, and experts in the field. The opening event, hosted in November 2024, featured two lectures delivered by BCB alumnus Khalil Hammod ‘22 and Professor Hans-Christian von Hermann of the Technische Universität Berlin.

“The main objective of my talk was not simply to promote the use of AI tools but to emphasize the importance of understanding when they are helpful and when they are not,” says Khalil. “AI tools are not a one-size-fits-all solution, and there are multiple ways to engage with them. However, such understanding can only come from directly interacting with these tools.”

The second event, held later that month, gave students a platform to share their experiences with AI. Reflecting on the discussion, Champlin noted, “It was interesting to hear that BCB students aren’t using AI to replace learning. After all, they came to BCB because they’re interested in reflection, making a difference, and making their own decisions. They want to learn about history and philosophy, and read Plato.” The event, he added, offered valuable insight into “how people, who mean well, are using AI, which puts us in a better position to craft a nuanced policy on it.”

The final event in the series, scheduled for February 21, will feature an AI ethics expert from the Hertie School. The discussion will focus on defining responsible AI use and drafting an updated AI policy for the student handbook. “The proposed policy is ultimately for the faculty to review. Our goal is to produce and propose something that is more nuanced than a blanket ban, and would likely include an appendix outlining acceptable uses of AI,” Champlin explained.

Through collaborative events and thoughtful discussions, the AI Aware Universities initiative at BCB is set to play a meaningful role in ensuring that upcoming technological advancements support—rather than undermine—academic integrity and intellectual curiosity.

Post Date: 02-17-2025