Titled “AI in Education – A New Beginning or the Beginning of the End,” the 26th CARNET Users Conference CUC2024 concluded today in Rovinj, marking the largest educational conference in Croatia.
The conference explored key topics related to the future of education in the digital age, focusing on CARNET’s project Support for the Application of Digital Technologies in Education – BrAIn. The aim of this initiative is to enhance the quality of the educational process through the integration of digital technologies, establishing a personalized approach to learning and teaching, and developing curricula and digital educational content in emerging digital technologies.
Juraj Bilić, Deputy CEO of CARNET for the Artificial Intelligence Sector, an expert in the OECD working group on the future of artificial intelligence, and project leader of BrAIn, also spoke about the project at the conference. He reflected on the Artificial Intelligence Act and introduced newly developed curricula on artificial intelligence, which will be experimentally implemented starting this autumn as an extracurricular activity for elementary schools and an elective subject for high schools.
In addition to the online portion held on April 9 and 10, the conference hosted participants in Rovinj on April 18 and 19. Over 1,000 participants from all parts of Croatia, including representatives from schools, higher education institutions, and other educational organizations, had the opportunity to engage in more than 30 workshops and informal Birds of a Feather discussions, over 70 interactive presentations, as well as focus groups and a panel discussion that marked the ceremonial opening of the conference.
Regarding the topic of Artificial Intelligence: From Regulation to Education, alongside Juraj Bilić, speakers included Saša Mladenović, a full professor at the Faculty of Science and Mathematics at the University of Split and leader of the artificial intelligence research group; Dalia Kager, an information technology teacher and mentor at Eugena Kvaternika Elementary School in Velika Gorica; Antonija Capan, a mathematics teacher at Grabrik Elementary School; and Jaye Richards Hill, Director of Microsoft EDU for Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
This conference provided a valuable opportunity for the exchange of ideas, experiences, and best practices in integrating technology into education. Continuing the tradition of promoting innovation in education, CARNET has once again demonstrated its commitment to enhancing the Croatian educational system.