AIEOU Digital Launch
On 29 April 2025, the digital launch of the AIEOU Hub brought together around 300 educators, researchers, policymakers, industry collaborators, and students from around the world. The vibrant atmosphere was fuelled by a live chat brimming with warm greetings from across the globe. Participants also actively shared their contact details to connect with one another and exchanged insights on AI in education throughout the event.
Opening Remarks and Introductions
Dr Sara Ratner opened the event with welcoming remarks and housekeeping notes, which set the tone for an inclusive, forward-thinking gathering.
Professor Anne Trefethen, Pro Vice Chancellor (Digital), and Professor Victoria Murphy, Director of the Department of Education, warmly welcomed attendees and affirmed the commitment of the Department of Education and the wider University of Oxford to shaping AI in education through interdisciplinary collaboration.
Meet the Team
Sara introduced the AIEOU leadership and research team, along with student volunteers and interns. It’s an expanding team, and we look forward to welcoming more like-minded researchers to join us.
The Vision for AIEOU
Sara then presented the vision of AIEOU as a collaborative, ethical, and human-centred hub that amplifies the voices of educators and learners in shaping the future of AI in education. The hub aims to unite stakeholders from across disciplines, including education, technology, government, NGOs, and policy, to ensure AI development aligns with pedagogical best practice and equitable access.
Who We Are Today
The hub now brings together over 1,000 members from more than 100 countries. In a testament to its open and welcoming approach, AIEOU has organically achieved gender parity, with participants identifying across a spectrum of genders.
One of the most memorable moments was when Sara unveiled the creative origin of the name AIEOU. Drawing inspiration from the five vowels (A, E, I, O, U), the team gave them a twist to form AIEOU, which is also the acronym for AI in Education at Oxford University. As Sara eloquently put it, this transformation reflects the essence of AIEOU’s mission:
“It’s about taking something familiar and transforming it into something new, meaningful, and innovative, just like our work in this space.”
Exciting News
Sara shared the good news that AIEOU has been endorsed by the UK National Commission for UNESCO, and the hub’s work has been officially submitted for the prestigious UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize.
Research Themes
Professor Rebecca Williams introduced the four research themes of AIEOU: design, regulation, implementation, and impact. These themes also form the four pillars of the hub, which encompasses pedagogy and practice, ethics and equity, design and development, as well as policy and governance.
Why This Work Matters
Professor Elizabeth Wonnacott delivered a powerful reminder of why AIEOU’s work matters now more than ever. As education stands at a crossroads, she emphasised the game-changing potential of digital tools that are interactive, adaptive, and personalised. But she also cautioned against leaving the future of education in the hands of Big Tech alone. She called for evidence-based innovation, greater equity in access, and the development of systems and policies rooted in pedagogy and social justice.
Dates for Your Calendar
Attendees were invited to mark their calendars for the upcoming AIEOU conference:
September 15, 2025: Student-Led Conference
September 16, 2025: Collaborator Conference
September 17, 2025: Industry Showcase
There are many ways attendees can actively shape and contribute to the conference, including:
• Apply as speakers to share knowledge and ideas at the event;
• Join as reviewers to help evaluate submissions and enhance the quality of presentations;
• Serve on the student event judging panel, selecting the top three submissions in each stream;
• Become community leads for specific regions or research streams.
Although the conference will be free to attend, space is limited, and hub members are encouraged to register quickly once bookings open. Additional social and dining events will be ticketed through the University of Oxford online store. Importantly, attendees were advised not to book travel until their attendance is confirmed.
Visiting Fellowship
Plans for a range of Visiting Fellowships were introduced during the launch, including Recognised Students, Academic Fellows, Educator Fellows, Industry Fellows, and Policy Fellows. The purpose is to offer opportunities for hub members to spend time at the University of Oxford through the AIEOU Hub, and to support collaboration across sectors and career stages. Further details on applications and funding will be shared soon.
How to Get Involved
Sara highlighted several ways for hub members to get involved in the growing community of AIEOU. The message was clear: whether through dialogue, writing, or collaboration, everyone has a role to play in shaping the future of AI in education. Attendees were encouraged to contribute blog posts and provocations, engage in active discussions via Teams, and share project outcomes as they evolve. The hub also welcomes collaborators to seek participants and co-investigators for projects by emailing us for inclusion on our website.
Over the past week, we’ve finalised more details about the various ways of getting involved with AIEOU. If you’re interested in contributing to our growing community, whether through events, research, collaboration, or leadership, we’d love to hear from you. Please fill out our Volunteer Registration Form.
Key Takeaways
The launch concluded with a clear message: AIEOU is a community shaped by its members. Attendees were encouraged to get involved. What they gain depends on what they contribute. Active engagement is vital to make the most of the growing network of educators, researchers, and practitioners.
Everyone was invited to join the AIEOU Teams channel to stay updated on news, events, and opportunities for connection. If you have trouble accessing the Teams channel, please refer to this Troubleshooting Guide.
