Do you have a keen interest in education, research and intelligent technologies? Do you want to be part of a team that works on ethical and responsible AI for education? The National Education Lab for Artificial Intelligence (NOLAI in Dutch) at Radboud University develops innovative and intelligent technologies aimed at improving the quality of primary and secondary education. Over the next ten years, NOLAI will team up with schools, research and applied sciences universities and companies to create new innovative prototypes of AI in education. As a PhD candidate, you will work together with educational professionals, researchers and technologists to integrate ethics into the development process of AI and create responsible educational AI.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is playing a growing role in Dutch education as it is believed to be crucial in improving the quality of teaching. However, such AI technologies are not just passive, neutral tools that are used to fulfil pre-defined functions. The introduction of AI in primary and secondary education and the interaction with AI may destabilise core educational values (such as good pedagogy, equal opportunities and collaboration) as well as public values which are important in the educational sector (such as autonomy, justice and humanness), with unknown consequences. In this PhD project, you will critically study the ethical and societal consequences of AI in education. You will be able to shape the project in a unique way matching your interests and background.
You will be part of NOLAI's ethics team that is led by Prof. Tamar Sharon (PhD supervisor) and Dr Marthe Stevens (co-supervisor). The ethics team will work on integrating ethics into educational AI development by using embedded ethics approaches. This means that throughout your research you will interact with teachers, researchers and technology developers to address ethical issues in an iterative and continuous process.
NOLAI's scientific programme supports the development of AI prototypes in education and creates the preconditions necessary for a successful dialogue between schools, scientists and companies. The aim of the scientific programme is to gain insight into the pedagogical, technical, societal and ethical consequences of AI in education. It examines the opportunities and risks of intelligent technologies, based on the premise that, although AI can be a useful tool for teachers and students, it also comes with some ethical challenges that need to be identified and addressed at the development level.
Fixed-term contract: You will be employed for an initial period of 18 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4 year contract) or 3.5 years (5 year contract).
The National Education Lab for Artificial Intelligence (NOLAI) is a collaborative effort of schools, research and applied sciences universities and companies to develop prototypes for primary and secondary education over the coming ten years. With these prototypes, it will be possible to meet the increasing demand for responsible learning materials and intelligent technologies. Alongside its scientific programme (engaging researchers and data scientists), NOLAI has a co-creation programme in place (in which education, science and business collaborate on projects). In total, about 30 to 40 people will be working at NOLAI and many more people will be involved in carrying out the various projects.
You will be embedded at the Department of Ethics and Political Philosophy at the Faculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies. This faculty is a compact, ambitious organisation with eight academic departments, over 160 staff, and more than 1,000 students. Our educational programme includes several top-notch courses in in-depth disciplinary fields of study as well as interdisciplinary and interfaculty studies. The Faculty has innovative educational and research programmes with a strong focus on current social issues.
You will also be affiliated with iHub, Radboud University's interdisciplinary hub for digitalisation and society. iHub brings together researchers from various disciplines, including philosophy, computer science, law and social sciences, and focuses on the promotion of public values in digital society.
This application process is managed by the employer (Radboud University). Please contact the employer for questions regarding your application.
Please contact the employer for questions regarding your application.
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Make sure to apply no later than 11 Jun 2023 23:59 (Europe/Amsterdam).
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