Last week ETF actively contributed to the Asia-Europe meeting expert group digitalisation and AI in conjunction (ASEM EG D-AI) with the 6th ASEF Higher Education Innovation Laboratory (ASEFInnoLab6) “AI-enabled future: Balancing Innovation, Equity, and Autonomy amid New Opportunities and Challenges”
The two connected events, took place at the Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, from 2 to 5 December 2025 to deepen a shared inquiry: How can Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) become enablers of smart, ethical and inclusive AI dissemination for a future-ready society?
The event promotes a genuinely international perspective in addressing global challenges associated with the use of AI in education.
ETF actively participated in a panel discussion, recalling the education’s mission
“To teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education”, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
emphasising the significance of international regulation framework and public policies in digital education and AI, also highlighting the vital role universities play in ensuring research impartiality. Moreover, the ETF underscored the necessity for higher education institutions to equip educators with digital skills and to support the formulation of public policies with robust and unbiased scientific evidence.
The ASEFInnoLab6 week was also the opportunity to share and run peer-feedback sessions on a series of Asia-Europe research papers including:
- Education: A Scenario-Based Framework for Rapid Micro-Credential Development in Asia and Europe (AP8)
- Institutions at the Edge of AI: Policy and Ethics for Cross-Regional Innovation in Higher Education (AP27)
- Artificial Intelligence Development and Governance: Ethical and Regulatory Lacunae, Cross-Cultural Challenges, and Practical Solutions (AP28)
- Building An Inclusive AI Ecosystem: Insights from Selected Higher Educations in Europe and Asia (AP32)
- Reframing Creativity: AI’s Emerging Influence on Art and Design Pedagogy from Studio to Screen (AP41)
- Breaking Barriers: Generative AI Access in Higher Education – Towards a Minimum Access Standard for Educators in Europe and Asia (AP34)
- The AI Creativity Paradox: Is AI becoming a shortcut or an amplifier for the thinking process? (AP40)
- Effortless Effort? Investigating the Cognitive Impact of Generative AI Assistance on Student Learning Across Asia and Europe (AP42)
The outcome of ASEFInnoLab6 will be incorporated into a Manifesto, collaboratively drafted during the event. This document will outline ten guiding principles, serving as a catalyst for reflection and action among higher education leaders, programme directors, and heads of studies, urging them to help shape the future of AI in education for the benefit of all, more to come!
The spirit of exchange, sharing, and co-creation demonstrated at both events closely reflects ETF’s approach and mission as a global catalyst for change and innovation in lifelong learning systems. This ethos was further exemplified by the diverse selection of food, cultures, and experiences shared during the informal dinner.
You can find attached the agenda ASEM EG Digital and AI meeting and the ASEFInnoLab6 and the ETF presentation.
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