In a collaboration with OpenAI, the Centre for AI and Robotics of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) has launched a project titled “AI literacy for schools: Training teachers for a changing world”, under the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) youth and wellbeing grant.

The programme OpenAI EMEA Youth & Wellbeing Grant will support institutions across the EMEA region, which are developing practical tools, research, and initiatives aimed at ensuring AI is safe, responsible, and beneficial for young people.

According to a release by UNICRI, which is one of the 12 recipients of this grant, the project will focus on strengthening generative AI literacy among teachers worldwide, equipping them with the knowledge, tools, and pedagogical skills needed to guide students in using AI responsibly, maximizing its benefits while mitigating its risks.

Through a combination of research, curriculum development, and pilot training, the initiative will support schools in integrating AI literacy into everyday learning which will help children in preparing them for an evolving digital world.

“Teachers play a critical role in helping young people understand and use AI responsibly and confidently. Through our EMEA youth and wellbeing programme, OpenAI is proud to support UNICRI’s work to give educators practical tools and evidence-based guidance for the classroom,” said Rafaela Nicolazzi, data, privacy and consumer protection lead, Europe, global affairs of OpenAI.

She further highlighted that the project reflects the company’s broader commitment to partner with expert organizations across the region to ensure that young people can benefit from AI in ways, which will support their learning, development, and wellbeing.

The project builds on UNICRI’s ongoing work in AI and child protection, including the AI for Safer Children initiative, which supports law enforcement in addressing child sexual abuse through the use of AI tools, and the AI Literacy for Parents and Children programme, which prepares families to navigate generative AI responsibly.

“By extending this work to educators, UNICRI aims to create a scalable and sustainable model capable of reaching thousands of students through empowered and trained teachers,” the institute mentioned.

“Across the United Nations system, and at UNICRI through its Centre for AI and Robotics, we see advancing AI literacy and responsible use as essential to ensuring that the benefits of AI are widely shared, while potential risks and harms are addressed in a manner aligned with societal values. This collaboration reflects the growing importance of cross-sector efforts to shape a trusted, inclusive, and human-centred global AI ecosystem” said Irakli Beridze, head of the Centre for AI and Robotics of UNICRI.

By investing in teachers and education systems, UNICRI and OpenAI seek to equip the next generation with the knowledge, critical thinking skills, and ethical awareness needed to engage with AI safely, responsibly, and confidently.

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