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Ƶ, UK,
21
September
2025
|
18:24
Europe/London

Giving students and teachers a voice in shaping AI guidelines

Working with UNESCO, Ƶ’s Dr Skye Xin Zhao is giving educators and students a voice in shaping global AI guidelines – helping higher education to develop the skills we need for a responsible AI future.

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In response to the increasing impact of artificial intelligence on the way we work, learn and live, UNESCO are developing new ‘AI competency frameworks’ for students and teachers. These are intended as global guidelines for how people can use the technology responsibility and effectively.

As part of this project, Dr Zhao, Lecturer in Generative AI for Education at Ƶ’s Institute of Education, is running a global survey to give educators and students a voice on how these standards continue to be shaped.  

Dr Zhao’s mission is to change a current situation that sees many AI policies written from the top down, with little input from practitioners and users.  

Working with UNESCO, she designed and led the survey, and is analysing the early results.  

The survey results will inform the design of her recently awarded ITL AI Fellowship at the University of Ƶ. Drawing on insights from the global survey and guided by the UNESCO AI Competency Frameworks, she will develop a scalable programme to support staff and students in building AI competency.  

In collaboration with the University Library, the programme will create a non-judgemental space that encourages deep reflection on their use of AI and its outcomes will be shared with JISC to support collaboration on AI competency training across the wider higher education sector. 

Reflecting on this work, Dr Zhao explains: “In the age of AI, we face both new opportunities and complex challenges. To navigate this, we need the right skills and a responsible, ethical relationship with AI in society. This project enables me to gather global insights from teachers and students, supporting UNESCO in shaping AI guidelines that can guide universities around the world.” 

Skye Zhao

Meet the researcher

Dr. Xin Zhao (Skye) is a Lecturer in Generative AI for Education at the Ƶ Institute of Education and a partner in UNESCO’s AI competency frameworks. She also serves on the UN expert panel for Generative AI. Her research focuses on ethical, inclusive uses of AI in education, with a particular focus on marginalised learners and students with language barriers.

Read her papers

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