ZfQ: Teaching AI Competencies: Conceptual Foundations and Practical Guidance

Artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping teaching, learning, and assessment practices in higher education. Yet, due to the rapid pace of technological development, it often remains unclear which skills are truly essential for students’ future academic and professional lives. This workshop is designed for university instructors who wish to develop a clearer understanding of AI competencies: what they entail, how they can be assessed, and—most importantly—how they can be taught in a reflective manner.

Drawing on the EU Digital Competence Framework for Citizens (DigComp) and UNESCO’s AI Competency Framework for Teachers, the workshop introduces AI as a cross-cutting component of digital competency. Participants will explore how AI relates to key areas such as information and data literacy, digital content creation, ethical awareness, safety, and critical problem-solving.

Building on this conceptual foundation, the workshop provides practical guidance for responsible and pedagogically sound uses of AI in university teaching. Participants will reflect on concrete teaching scenarios and discuss how to support students in developing AI competencies relevant to their academic and professional futures, while remaining aligned with institutional guidelines and values.

Prerequisite: We kindly ask participants who are not yet familiar with the university’s position on the use of AI in teaching to read the University of Potsdam’s official statement on AI in teaching prior to attending the workshop.