The joint European Union and Council of Europe action “Quality education for all” hosted on 29 – 30 May in Podgorica an important workshop focusing on the potential for and challenges in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT into higher education.

This event aimed to explore the ethical considerations, practical applications, and policy development necessary for responsibly harnessing AI's power in academic settings. The event was co-organised with U.S. Embassy, Montenegro - Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs with strong partnership of the University of Montenegro.

Welcome addresses were delivered by Lejla Dervišagić, Head of the Council of Europe Programme Office in Podgorica, and Sanja Peković, Vice-Rector for Internationalisation at the University of Montenegro. They set the stage for the discussions, emphasising the importance of ethical AI use in academia.

Sessions provided an opportunity to around 90 academics from private and public universities to gain a comprehensive understanding of AI, from its technical foundations to its ethical implications. Eminent expert speakers from the United States brought the mentioned topics closer to academic staff in Montenegro given that the U.S. is by far most advanced country in applying AI in higher education. The experts provided hands-on strategies for integrating AI into academic practices and engaged participants in interactive discussions, producing scenarios to explore the boundaries of ethical AI use. The second day focused on policy development by guiding participants in a collaborative way to draft clear and effective AI policies for academic institutions.

The event was organised within the action “Quality education for all”, which is part of the joint European Union/Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.