Human-Centred Knowledge

In 2027, IHED invites universities, students and policymakers to put people at the centre of the AI era: protecting integrity, widening access and keeping curiosity and critical thinking at the heart of learning.

Artificial intelligence is changing how knowledge is created, taught and assessed. Universities are asked to adapt faster than ever, at a time of tight budgets, rising student debt and growing questions about the value of a degree.

The 2027 theme, Human-Centred Knowledge, asks how higher education can use new technology without losing what makes it unique: academic freedom, mentorship, critical thinking, integrity and care for every learner. It also calls for fair access, so that digital transformation narrows the gaps between and within countries instead of widening them.

On 19 June 2027, institutions are invited to host discussions, open days and student-led projects around four questions: How do we teach and assess with AI responsibly? How do we protect wellbeing and belonging? How do we keep higher education open to all? How do we build trust between universities and society?

Human-centred does not mean against technology. It means that people decide what technology is for. Students need clear and fair rules about when AI tools may be used and how to acknowledge them, teachers need time and training to adapt their courses, and institutions need to be open about the tools they buy and the data those tools collect. Wellbeing, belonging and trust should be designed into every change, not added afterwards.

Ideas for events

Events can take place on campus, online or in a hybrid form, on 19 June or in the days around it. Any institution, student union, association or organisation can take part. Some ideas for this theme:

• A student-led debate on the responsible use of AI in coursework and exams
• A workshop where staff and students draft a shared AI-use charter for a course or a department
• A demonstration day showing useful and critical uses of AI tools in different disciplines
• A wellbeing and belonging session on loneliness, workload and support services
• An open forum with employers, schools and the city on what a degree should mean in an AI-shaped world

Official IHED Agenda

Every year the IHED central organising team holds one official event: a full day of seminars, sessions, conversations and celebration, in person at a host institution and online for participants everywhere. A different university or institution hosts it each year. The agenda of the day:

• 09:00 Doors open, registration and coffee in the foyer
• 09:45 Opening ceremony by the host institution and the IHED organising team
• 10:15 Keynote: Keeping people at the centre of the AI era
• 11:15 Break in the foyer and networking
• 11:45 Panel: Teaching and assessing with AI responsibly
• 13:00 Lunch
• 14:00 Parallel seminars, in person and online
• 15:30 Workshop: Writing an AI-use charter that students and teachers both trust
• 16:45 Fireside conversation with students, alumni and the host institution
• 17:30 Celebration: reception and cultural programme
• 18:30 Closing remarks and announcement of the next host

Tell the IHED organising team about your event

Please register your event with the IHED organising team. Use the registration form on this website and add your institution, the date and time, the format (on site, online or hybrid), a short description and a link for participants. The team reviews every submission, usually within a few working days, and publishes approved events on the Events page, where visitors from all over the world can find them. Questions? Write to the team through the contact page.