Report on Transnational Meeting A5.1 in Trnava

Date: March 14-15, 2024
Location: Trnava, Slovakia

The transnational meeting A5.1, a pivotal component of Work Package 5 (WP5) of the FAAI project, was held on March 14-15, 2024, in Trnava, Slovakia. This meeting brought together representatives from five partner institutions to discuss and coordinate the development of training materials and a thesaurus in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). The targeted audiences for these resources include students, teachers, mentors, and managers in the education and business sectors.

Participating Institutions:

1. University of Bielsko-Biala, Poland (UBB)
2. University of Library Studies and IT, Bulgaria (ULSIT)
3. The University of Niš, Serbia (UNI)
4. The University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Slovakia (UCMT)
5. University of Montenegro, Montenegro (UoM)

Meeting Agenda and Highlights

March 14, 2024

The meeting commenced with an introduction session at 11:00 AM, where participants reviewed the current state of the project and discussed the results from previous work packages (A5.3 and A5.6). Each institution presented their progress:

• UBB provided insights into the Teachers Guide, outlining essential pedagogical strategies for incorporating AI in education.
• ULSIT showcased the Student’s Guide, designed to equip learners with foundational knowledge in AI and ML.
• UNI introduced the Business Guide, derived from extensive surveys and aimed at providing actionable recommendations for integrating AI in business practices.
• UCMT discussed the development of Learning Scenarios tailored to various educational contexts.
• UoM shared their methodology for Competence Assessment, crucial for evaluating the impact of AI training on student outcomes.

Following this overview, participants engaged in a detailed discussion on the current state of WP5, focusing on the distribution of responsibilities for key deliverables. This included:

• The creation of a comprehensive Applied Artificial Intelligence Curriculum.
• The development of translated Teacher and Student Guides to ensure accessibility across participating countries.
• A Business Guide designed to synthesize research findings and provide practical insights into AI applications in local industries.
• A methodology for integrating the training program within local environments, fostering collaboration among educational institutions, businesses, and local organizations.

After a productive morning, attendees broke for lunch at 1:00 PM, allowing for informal networking and discussion.

In the afternoon, sessions resumed at 2:00 PM with discussions on the translation of project results into native languages, ensuring that all materials are accessible to non-English speaking participants. The team then explored the AAI Job Hub, a proposed platform to enhance the visibility and openness of project results, facilitating broader engagement with the resources developed through the FAAI project.

The day concluded with a collaborative session at 3:00 PM, where participants shared good practices for implementing the FAAI initiative in their respective institutions, highlighting successes and challenges faced in the process.

March 15, 2024

The second day began with a focus on enhancing the evaluation of project results. Participants discussed various metrics and methodologies to assess the effectiveness of the training materials and their impact on the target audiences.

Following this, the agenda included a reporting session on the ongoing development of educational materials for the training course on Applied Artificial Intelligence. Participants reviewed progress and outlined next steps for ensuring comprehensive coverage of key AI concepts.

At 10:30 AM, the group shifted its attention to the dissemination of project results. Discussions centered on upcoming events and publications designed to share findings with a broader audience and prepare for multiplier events that will promote WP5 initiatives.

After a coffee break at 11:00 AM, participants reconvened to focus on the preparation of teacher and student training sessions scheduled to take place in Trnava. This session included planning for recording lectures and ensuring high-quality educational content.

The meeting concluded with a discussion on financial issues and managerial activities of the project, led by institutional coordinators from each participating university. This discussion was crucial for ensuring that all partners are aligned on budgetary matters and project administration.

Conclusion

The transnational meeting A5.1 proved to be a highly productive gathering, fostering collaboration among partner institutions. Participants left with clear action items, a shared vision for the development of AI education resources, and a renewed commitment to enhancing the capacity of students, teachers, and business leaders in the field of AI. The meeting not only advanced the objectives of the FAAI project but also strengthened the network of institutions working together to drive innovation in AI education across Europe.