AI elements in all exams and incentivised secondment of researchers

Artificial intelligence must be incorporated into school and university curricula. This involves not only training teachers, educating students and supporting researchers, but also using it to help young people navigate social media. This is provided for in the package of measures dedicated to educational pathways in the AI legislative decree approved on Wednesday 10 June by the Council of Ministers.

The starting point is schools, which must first and foremost find room for these topics within the 33 hours per year dedicated to civic education. This will require updating the relevant guidelines accordingly. The same ‘overhaul’ must also apply to career guidance and STEAM subjects. The aim is to include the basics of AI in all qualifications awarded on leaving secondary school, as well as in adult education centres and vocational education and training run by the regions. This will be achieved through a specific provision in the new National Guidelines for Sixth Form Curricula due to be introduced in 2027/28.

Among the measures proposed by the Ministry of Education, two stand out: on the one hand, the launch of a national training programme for all teachers, to help the education system prevent the risks associated with the uninformed use of social media and social environments based on artificial intelligence systems. On the other hand, there are educational initiatives aimed at pupils, involving families as well, to promote the informed and responsible use of digital tools. To this end, 100 million euros from the National Education and Skills Programme has been earmarked. Another provision brings ITS Academies into the picture, particularly those within the ‘Information, Communication and Data Technologies’ sector, with a view to nurturing talent for employment in high-tech sectors.

It is precisely the ITS Academies, together with universities and research bodies, that must then become ‘suppliers’ of AI experts. For university lecturers, researchers and technologists, a range of incentives is also being offered to encourage secondment (for a maximum of three years) to organisations involved in innovation and technology transfer. In addition to being exempt from teaching duties, lecturers will be able to count the work carried out towards their salary increments. There will also be ad hoc bonuses for the institutions involved.

Universities are also encouraged to incorporate elements of AI literacy into their degree programmes. The strategy, in line with the interdisciplinary approach promoted by the NRRP through the reform of degree programmes, is to incorporate – into university courses with a predominantly scientific, technological, engineering, mathematical, medical and biomedical profiles – the integration of ethical and legal aspects related to artificial intelligence and, conversely, to include technical and functional aspects in degree programmes with a predominantly economic, social, legal and humanities profile, as well as for AFAM institutions. It will be up to the universities, within the scope of their autonomy, to choose whether to focus on dedicated courses or modules integrated into existing courses, related or supplementary training activities or workshops and placements.