Preparing Schools for the AI Era

The Centre for AI and Robotics of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) launches the project AI Literacy for Schools: Training Teachers for a Changing World, in collaboration with OpenAI under the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) Youth & Wellbeing Grant. The programme supports institutions across the EMEA region that are developing practical tools, research, and initiatives aimed at ensuring AI is safe, responsible, and beneficial for young people.

UNICRI's project will focus on strengthening generative AI literacy among teachers worldwide, equipping them with the knowledge, tools, and pedagogical skills needed to guide students in using AI responsibly, maximising its benefits while mitigating its risks. Through a combination of research, curriculum development, and pilot training, the initiative will support schools in integrating AI literacy into everyday learning so that children are prepared for an evolving digital world.

"Teachers play a critical role in helping young people understand and use AI responsibly and confidently. Through our EMEA Youth & Wellbeing Programme, OpenAI is proud to support UNICRI's work to give educators practical tools and evidence-based guidance for the classroom. This project reflects our broader commitment to working with expert organisations across the region so young people can benefit from AI in ways that support their learning, development, and wellbeing." said Rafaela Nicolazzi, Data, Privacy & Consumer Protection Lead, Europe, Global Affairs of OpenAI.

The project builds on UNICRI's ongoing work in AI and child protection, including the AI for Safer Childreninitiative, which supports law enforcement in addressing child sexual abuse through the use of AI tools, and the AI Literacy for Parents and Children programme, which prepares families to navigate generative AI responsibly. By extending this work to educators, UNICRI aims to create a scalable and sustainable model capable of reaching thousands of students through empowered and trained teachers.

"We are pleased to work with OpenAI on this important EMEA initiative. Across the United Nations system, and at UNICRI through its Centre for AI and Robotics, we see advancing AI literacy and responsible use as essential to ensuring that the benefits of AI are widely shared, while potential risks and harms are addressed in a manner aligned with societal values. This collaboration reflects the growing importance of cross-sector efforts to shape a trusted, inclusive, and human-centred global AI ecosystem" said Irakli Beridze, Head of the Centre for AI and Robotics of UNICRI.

By investing in teachers and education systems, UNICRI and OpenAI aim to help equip the next generation with the knowledge, critical thinking skills, and ethical awareness needed to engage with AI safely, responsibly, and confidently.