The Ecosystem of AI Competency Education for Sustainability: A Case of Smart Agriculture

Cooperating countries: Ethiopia, Tanzania and Austria

Coordinating institution: Johannes Kepler University Linz, Zsolt Lavicza zsolt.lavicza@jku.at 

Partner institutions: Bahir Dar University, Ruaha Catholic University

Project duration: 

Budget: EUR 39.680

Abstract: 

The growing global demand for Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills necessitates that all people develop AI competencies worldwide. Many universities from developing countries fail to integrate AI competencies in their curricula, and others introduce students to AI only at a theoretical level, with limited opportunities to apply it to real-world problems due to institutional unpreparedness. This prevents universities from making meaningful contributions to sustainable development and from equipping graduates with the competencies necessary for the digital and green economies. This project seeks to develop AI competencies for Sustainability among students by transforming African universities into ecosystems of applied learning and community innovation. The initiative will train students to collect and analyse local climate real-data relevant to sustainable agricultural challenges and guide them in using these datasets to train AI models that generate context-specific solutions. Once the AI solutions are developed, students will collaborate with local communities to transfer knowledge and train community members to use and maintain these tools, fostering inclusive participation in the digital economy. The project will adopt a Design-based Research (DBR) approach to implement a project-based learning (PBL) approach that integrates AI, sustainability education, and community engagement across disciplines. Through partnerships between Johannes Kepler University in Austria, Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia and Ruaha Catholic University in Tanzania, the project will also develop a shared AI competencies module and implementation framework. Expected outcomes include enhanced students' AI competencies and AI empowered communities. The project contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 4, 8, 9, 11, and 17).