On April 30th, 2025, educators, legal experts, and EdTech professionals gathered at Algebra Bernays University in Zagreb for a Capacity Building Lab focused on one of the most pressing topics in education today: the legal and ethical challenges of emerging technologies. The event was held under the Erasmus+ ETHLAE project, and addressed both the exciting potential and serious responsibilities tied to the digital transformation of education.
From AI tools that personalise learning to systems that automate administrative tasks, digital technologies are becoming deeply embedded in classrooms, universities, and lifelong learning environments. But alongside the benefits come complex questions about transparency, fairness, and the rights of learners.
High-Risk AI in Education: What’s at Stake?
Did you know that under the new EU AI Act, many education technologies—like automatic grading systems, AI-based learning analytics, or facial recognition for attendance—are considered “high-risk”?
Participants at the Lab dove into what this means in practice. For instance, AI systems must now undergo risk assessments, ensure human oversight, and guarantee transparency in decision-making. And certain uses of AI—like emotion recognition or manipulative systems that exploit students’ vulnerabilities—are flat-out banned.
These insights were delivered by Marijana Šarolić Robić, a legal expert who offered a compelling breakdown of the EU’s groundbreaking regulation. As she explained, “education is not exempt from compliance—it’s at the very heart of it.”
The ethical dimensions of emerging technologies were presented by Maja Brkljačić, Head of the Research Centre at Algebra LAB. Her session highlighted some of the most pressing dilemmas facing education professionals today:
- Can AI truly be unbiased, or does it reinforce hidden inequalities?
- Are learners aware of how their data is being used?
- What does it mean to be “taught” or “evaluated” by an algorithm?
She invited participants to critically reflect on how ethical choices are embedded (or not) into the design of educational technologies. The session stressed that ethics should not be an afterthought—it must be an integral part of how we build, deploy, and use digital tools in learning environments.
Building AI Literacy for All
One of the most forward-looking discussions centered around AI literacy. According to the EU AI Act, by 2025, all users of AI in the EU—including educators and students—should demonstrate a basic understanding of AI systems and their implications.
This means more than just knowing how to use a tool. It means being able to ask the right questions, challenge bias, ensure transparency, and understand the social consequences of digital decisions.
The Takeaway: A Call for Responsible Innovation
The Capacity Building Lab made one thing clear: emerging technologies are reshaping education, but how we choose to use them is still up to us.
We are at a pivotal moment where institutions, developers, and educators can shape the future, one that embraces the benefits of AI while fiercely protecting human dignity, equity, and the right to learn without discrimination.
To learn more about the ETHLAE project and its work on holistic literacy in adult education, visit https://eaea.org/project/ethlae/
