Learning Research Methods with AI as a Private Tutor

was held on Tuesday 26 November from 13.00 - 14.00 CET

Presenter: Michaël de Clercq, Faculty of Bio-Science Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, BE

Read more to see the abstract, to download the presentation and view the recording of the Webinar

 

Artificial Intelligence in Education: Enhancing Teaching and Learning Capabilities

was held on Wednesday 25 September 2024 from 13.00 to 14.00 CET

Presenter: Joanna Paliszkiewicz, Director of Management Institute, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), Warsaw, PL

 

 

AI and entrepreneurship education, with a focus on social entrepreneurship

was held on Monday 9 September from 14:00 to 17:00 CEST

 See the pogramme and links to presentations

 

Preparing students for the AI era: integrating fundamental AI tools and skills into academic education curricula
was held on Tuesday 25 June 2024 from 13.00 to 14.00 CET

Presenters:

• Marko Ključarić - providing a former student's perspective
• Sergej Lugović - providing a employer's perspective on using AI in his business

Download the presentations here

 

 

Certificate “One Health & Water": a case study for the advancement of interdisciplinarity in professional training.
Delivered by Dean Alessia Lefébure, on Thursday 16 May 2024 from 13.00 - 14.00 CET
L’Institut Agro Rennes Angers, France

Read more and see the presentation

 

A One Health module: history and evolution at University College Dublin
was held on Thursday 7 December
from 13.00 - 14.00 CET

Presenter: Barry McMahon, School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, IE

See the presentation

 

Extracurricular activities and their importance in the academic environment: The EFSET example

Was held on Thursday 22 June from 13.00 - 14.00 CET and presented by Dimitrios Paraforos, Professor of Agricultural Engineering at Geisenheim University, DE and by Paola Varela Pérez, CEO HOLIROOTS, Remshalden, DE

See the programme and download the presentations

This annual ICA Forum, for Rectors, Presidents, Deans, and senior academic and management staff in life science Universities in Europe, aims to provide these university decision makers from ICA’s member universities with the opportunity to meet, to discuss current issues in the bioeconomy and life sciences, and to exchange views on these issues with relevant stakeholders in industry, government and NGOs.

List of past ICA Rectors and Deans Fora

15^th ICA Rectors and Deans Conference 2025, Vienna

• Navigating Complexity: ICA Leading the Circular Bioeconomy Transformation

14^th ICA Rectors and Deans Forum 2024, Zagreb

• The Future of Agriculture and Forestry in Europe: implications for Life Science Universities

13^th ICA Rectors and Deans Forum 2023 Lille

• Artificial Intelligence
• The One Health Triad

12^th ICA Rectors and Deans Forum 2022, Kaunas

• Bending the Curve for Biodiversity: challenges and opportunities for life science universities
• Life science universities addressing Knowledge Security

11^th ICA Rectors and Deans Forum 2021, Leuven

• The Role of Life Science Universities in Transitioning to Climate Neutrality
• Open Science

10^th ICA Rectors and Deans Forum 2020, Online

• Agricultural and Life Science Universities Responding to Covid-19
• Agricultural & Life Science Universities responding to the European Green Deal

9^th ICA Rectors and Deans Forum 2019, Beauvais

• Collaboration between European & African Life Science Universities for a Sustainable Future

8^th ICA Rectors and Deans Forum 2018, Wageningen

• High Tech to Feed the World Sustainably: Innovation from Spade to Fork
  

7^th ICA Rectors and Deans Forum 2017, Louvain-la-Neuve

• Life Science Universities Deliver Impact in Addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

6^th ICA Rectors and Deans Forum 2016, Ghent

• The Life Science University in the 21stC Global World

5^th ICA Rectors and Deans Forum 2015, Piacenza

• Educating the Young Professionals to Feed the Planet & Provide for the Sustainable Bioeconomy
  

4^th ICA Rectors and Deans Forum 2014, Ghent

• Challenges and Policy Implications of the new EU Programming period 2014 - 2020 for Life Science Universities
  

3^rd ICA Rectors and Deans Forum 2013, Ghent

• Engagement of Life Science Universities in Supporting the Growth of the Bioeconomy – the social, environmental, and economic implications
  

2^nd ICA Rectors & Deans Forum 2012, Ghent

• Engagement of Life Science Universities in the Knowledge Society and Innovation Networks

1^st ICA Rectors & Deans Forum 2011, Ghent

• Life Sciences Universities and Faculties: Meeting the Challenges and Expectations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Developing best teaching and learning practices for the professional use of AI
in Life Sciences Higher Education

at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb
on 23 and 24 October 2024

 

READ the Report of the Workshop by Mieke Uyttendaele, University of Ghent

ICA-Edu aims to provide the opportunity to discuss, evaluate and deliver innovative approaches in higher education provided by Life Sciences Universities in support of the European and global agenda for the circular bioeconomy (agriculture, forestry, food, biobased economy), sustainable use of natural resources, biodiversity, rural development and the environment

A  Workshop focus

In this 24 hour workshop (from lunctime to lunchtime) the focus was on exploring and enhancing the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in Life Sciences Higher Education. Participants will engage in discussions, case studies, and practical sessions aimed at developing effective teaching and learning practices that leverage AI to advance education in the field of life sciences.

The Workshop is offered as a hybrid event.  The ICA-Edu Executive Committee strongly encourages you to attend the Workshop in person to fully gain the benefit of the interaction between delegates in the discussions following the keynotes and in the discussion groups.  You have also the opportunity to contribute Case Studies to extend the perspective of the Keynotes see the detailed programme.

B  Expected Outcomes

• An enhanced understanding of the current state, benefits, concerns, and challenges of integrating AI in Life Sciences Higher Education.
• The identification of practical opportunities for integrating AI into curricula, with a focus on Bachelor and Master level degree programs.
• The development of authentic assessment scenarios that leverage AI, providing participants with actionable insights for future implementation in their educational contexts.

C  Target audience

This workshop is tailored for Bachelor and Master level degree programme coordinators, lecturers, and members of committees responsible for the (strategic) development of curricula in life sciences. Additionally, students with an interest in AI and its applications in higher education are invited to participate.

D  Programme

Wednesday 23^rd October

12.30	Registration and lunch
13.30	Welcome Kristina Kijk, former Vice Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb Julian Park, Chair ICA-Edu and University of Reading, Reading, UK
	Introduction to the Workshop’s aims Julian Park, Chair ICA-Edu and University of Reading, Reading, UK
Session 1	Overview of AI in Higher Education
13.45	Keynote: The current state of AI in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Markus Schatten. Faculty of Organization and Informatics, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, HR
14.15	Keynote: Articulation of the concerns from an educational manager regarding the impact of AI in teaching and learning Janna Pietikäinen & Hanna-Riitta Kymäläinen, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FI.
14.45	Group Discussion of the benefits, concerns and challenges
15.30	Coffee Break
Session 2	Learning from Institutional Response to AI in teaching and Learning and the implementation of Guidelines
16.00	Keynote: How Ghent University is addressing the use of generative AI in teaching and learning Mieke Uyttendaele, Faculty Director of Education & Internationalisation, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent, Ghent, BE
16.30	Group Discussion on the diversity of institutional response to AI in teaching and learning and implementation of Guidelines
17.15	Concluding comments and closure for the day
19.30	Dinner

Thursday 24^th October

Session 3	integrating AI into Assessment
9.00	Keynote: Reimagining Authentic Assessment: the power (and some peril) of Generative AI Nigel Francis, School of Biosciences, University of Cardiff, UK, & David Smith, Sheffield Hallam University, UK
9.30	Group activity to discuss/ brainstorm the design of authentic assessment scenarios in the context AI
10.15	Coffee break
Session 4	Review of the expected outcomes for the Workshop
10.45	Small Group discussions assessing the potential and current challenges for the successful integration of AI in teaching and learning in the life sciences
11.45	Report Back
12.30	Closing
13.00	Lunch

 

E   Organising Committee

Julian Park, Chair ICA-Edu Executive Committee & Former Pro-Vice Chancellor Education and Student Experience, Professor of Agricultural Systems, University of Reading, UK
Teodor Ioan Trasca, Vice Chair ICA-Edu Executive Committee & Vice-Rector, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine - Bucharest, RO
Stefano Cesco - Former Dean, Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen Bolzano, Bolzano, IT
Kristina Kljak – Vice Dean for International and Interinstitutional Cooperation, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, HR
Marta Mendel – Vice Rector for International Co-operation, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, PL
Janna Pietikäinen, Vice-Dean for Academic Affairs, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FI
Mieke Uyttendaele – Faculty Director of Education & Internationalisation, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent, Ghent, BE
Simon Heath, Deputy Secretary General, Association for European Life Science Universities (ICA)