International Expert Conference of DOBA University of Applied Sciences: Shaping the Future of Learning with AI

The International Expert Conference, held on 20 November 2025, attracted more than 700 registered participants from 28 countries around the world. It demonstrated how relevant and essential the discussion on the responsible integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into higher education study is. It also opened key questions about the future of learning, teaching and the assessment of knowledge, confirming that Europe and the world are actively seeking considered solutions for the digital transformation of higher education. AI is rapidly reshaping higher education, where technological issues are increasingly becoming pedagogical and societal.

Global discussion on the transformation of higher education

Speakers from Germany, Australia, the United Kingdom, Croatia and Slovenia offered a broad and in-depth perspective on the future of education: firstly, how to design learning processes that keep pace with rapid technological and social changes; secondly, how AI is reshaping the ‘grammar of learning’; and thirdly, which are the competences that student of the future needs to have.

The discussions highlighted the latest research and innovations in AI and the assessment of knowledge, while emphasising the importance of fair and accessible digital education for all students. The presentations also showcased concrete ways of integrating AI into pedagogical practice, from supporting collaborative learning to modern approaches to assessment, and how higher education institutions can shape learning environments that respond to the needs of a modern, rapidly changing world.

Universities as laboratories of hybrid intelligence

In his opening address, Prof. Dr Ulf-Daniel Ehlers of Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University Karlsruhe (Germany) examined how AI is shaping the future of learning. He presented a shift from traditional, content-focused teaching towards learning based on capabilities and real-world challenges. He warned: “The central challenge is that AI is transforming the way we learn, work and conduct science much faster than universities are adapting.” The AIComp study he presented reveals a gap between students’ needs and the actual development of competences. “People rate AI-related future competences as essential for their future, yet their real experiences and confidence in this area lag far behind.” He believes that a curriculum reform is essential. In a visionary tone, he concluded: “Universities must become ‘laboratories of hybrid intelligence’, where people and AI systems learn together and where students practise using AI to shape society in a responsible, democratic and sustainable way.”

The profile of the student of the future and a new logic of learning

Assoc. Prof. Dr Sandra Kučina Softić, University of Zagreb (Croatia), highlighted the urgency of rapid changes in education and the balance between technology and humans: “We must find the right balance between using AI to enhance learning and ensuring that education remains fundamentally human-centred.”

Dr Julie Lindsay, University of Southern Queensland (Australia), presented the Human–AI–World ecosystem. Her vision of the future is clear: “In the future, universities must design forms of assessment that recognise processes, peer learning and co-creation between humans and AI. In this way, we will promote not only the acquisition of knowledge but also creativity, resilience and the global connectedness of students.”

The conference also hosted three Slovenian experts. Asst. Prof. Dr Miha Lavrič, DOBA University of Applied Sciences (Slovenia), suggested that “a human-centred learning environment supported by AI should foster curiosity, critical thinking and ethical judgement, preparing students not only for the responsible use of AI but also for actively shaping the world it helps create.”

The event brought together researchers, teachers and experts from around the world, confirming that the discussion about the future of learning transcends the boundaries of institutions, disciplines and national contexts, and that the responsible integration of artificial intelligence is one of the key challenges of education today.

More about the event.