The VETAssIst – AI in education networking event, organised as part of the first Budapest International Conference on Education on 28 November 2024, aimed to provide a platform for practitioners and researchers engaged in or interested in the field of AI in education (AIEd) to connect and share their work and experiences.
In the first part of the event, experts from within and beyond BME, including VETAssIst team member, gave very short, teach-meet-like presentations of their work:
- Éva Tóth (BMSZC Petrik Lajos Technikum, VETAssist) who showcased how AI can support personalized learning, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving in VET
- Markó Molnár (Budapest School Gellért) who demonstrated creative uses of ChatGPT, from training AI as a science-teaching assistant to enabling students to develop personalized AI tutors
- Rahul Razdan (Florida Polytechnic University / Razdan Research Institute / Uni Győr) who explored the potential non-linear impacts of AI on education, challenging traditional paradigms
- Christine Siemer & Vivian Harberts (ITB Uni Bremen, VETAssist) who presented outcomes from the AI Pioneers and AI4ED projects, focusing on AI’s applications in vocational education
- Dénes Zarka (BME) who discussed expectations vs. reality in AI-driven needs analyses
- Marcell Sebestyén (BME) who explored real risks and philosophical challenges of AI in education, beyond dystopian narratives or labor market concerns.
Following the presentations, participants engaged in a collaborative world café discussion, organised into groups facilitated by project team members. The discussions revolved around three key themes:
- AI and teacher professional development
- Politics and administration in (VET) schools
- Acceptance of AI in education (VET)
Afterward, each group shared the main takeaways from their conversations with the larger audience. The event concluded with an open forum, fostering further exchange of ideas and reflections. This interactive format successfully brought together diverse perspectives, promoting meaningful dialogue on the intersection of AI and education.
