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The Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU) under the auspices of UNESCO and the Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Korea to UNESCO jointly organized a roundtable discussion on "AI and Global Citizenship Education" on 16 October 2024 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, on the occasion of the 220th Session of the UNESCO Executive Board. The event was held in partnership with the Group of Friends for Solidarity and Inclusion with GCED and UNESCO.

H.E. Ms. Sang Mee Bak, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Korea to UNESCO, emphasized in her opening remarks that "Education plays a crucial role in understanding how this world is closely interconnected and respecting diverse cultures and values in today's rapidly changing world". She particularly highlighted the UNESCO's '2023 Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Sustainable Development,' stressing the need to incorporate international solidarity and global perspectives into educational policies.

Ms. Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education at UNESCO, emphasized that "While the role of technology in education systems becomes increasingly important with digitalization, maintaining a human-centered approach is essential." She announced that UNESCO would support the development of specific skills, aptitudes, and values through its 'AI Competency Framework.' She also expressed gratitude to the Korean government for supporting the GCED Prize, highlighting UNESCO's role as a platform for identifying and valorizing good practices at national and regional levels.

Professor Wayne Holmes from University College London presented two dimensions of approach: 'AI in education' and 'education about AI.' He pointed out that current AI educational tools focus solely on knowledge and skills transfer, emphasizing the need to consider 'individuation' and 'socialization' aspects crucial in Global Citizenship Education. He particularly highlighted concerns about AI's environmental impact through energy and water consumption, the exploitation of 'ghost workers' in AI development, and the potential loss of democratic control due to corporate AI dominance.

Professor Emmanuel Goffi from Paris Institute of Digital Technology emphasized that "responsible people" are more important than "responsible AI." He stressed the importance of critical thinking about AI and highlighted the significance of soft skills, including human interaction, effective communication, time management, and conflict management. He warned against the potential loss of these abilities through excessive AI use and called for genuine ethical considerations deeply rooted in cultural values.

Mr. Mark West, UNESCO Education Specialist, analyzed the digital transformation of education post-COVID-19, noting significant changes in traditional understanding of the right to education. He particularly emphasized the need to redefine concepts of attendance and participation in digital environments, and raised questions about the 'right to disconnected education.' He shared research findings suggesting that EdTech and digital-centered education could hinder development in very young learners, advocating for age-appropriate technology use approaches.

Dr. Hyun Mook Lim, Director of APCEIU emphasized in his closing remarks that "As AI technologies are raising serious concerns, global citizenship, values and principles have to be rigorously protected and promoted in all areas, especially in education." He highlighted the need to strengthen citizenship education, or Global Citizenship Education, not only for general learners but also for AI developers and users, calling for continued collaboration to find effective ways to learn and practice citizenship and global citizenship values and principles in and through education in relation to AI technologies.

The roundtable attracted approximately 60 participants, including representatives from numerous UNESCO Member States such as Austria, Argentina, Lao PDR, Canada, United States, Kenya, Chile, Italy, Serbia, and Japan, as well as GCED and AI practitioners and education professionals. The active participation of numerous UNESCO Member State representatives demonstrated the international community's high interest in the intersection of AI and education, with participants engaging in in-depth discussions about the role and direction of Global Citizenship Education in the era of AI. The event served as a significant opportunity to reaffirm the importance of Global Citizenship Education in maintaining human-centered values and ethical principles in an era of accelerating technological advancement.

URL: https://www.unescoapceiu.org/post/5192