Scope

The creation of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) plan is a key field for the European Union (EU) in the years to come, with the aim of placing it in a privileged position in this technological revolution.

In their recommendations, the European Commission considers general education on AI as crucial for a proper social development in the European States. This can only be achieved if AI teaching is introduced in pre-university official programmes, which globally affect society. Consequently, a first approach to such general AI education should target high school (upper secondary school) degrees, that is, students that will enter universities in a two/three year temporal horizon. These students will be the first generation that will encounter AI systems in their day-to-day life, and they will have to be prepared for that, understanding their operating principles and increasing their opportunities to participate in the future job market.

Pre-university AI teaching will increase job opportunities of EU students

A global training in intelligent systems for European high school students will help to provide equal opportunities for different regions regardless of their level of technological advance. Moreover, it will help to reduce gender differences, because AI fields of application are very diverse and dynamic, which can engage a wider range of personal interests. This will lead to more women becoming employed in technical jobs in the near future, reducing the opportunity gap when accessing better positions.

Considering this context, the AI+ project has as its main objective the development of an Artificial Intelligence curriculum adapted to high school education in Europe. The curriculum will be targeting 14 to 18 year old students with some previous basic knowledge of technology, mathematics and programming. It will cover a two-year period prior to their incorporation to tertiary education.