Western Balkans schools explore AI in education with UNESCO and UNICEF support
A UNESCO-supported conference in Sarajevo gathered teachers to research opportunities and challenges linked to AI in modern classrooms.
Educators from across the Western Balkans gathered in Sarajevo to discuss the rapid rise of AI in education and its implications for teaching and learning. The regional conference brought together more than 80 teachers and practitioners from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia.
Supported by UNESCO, UNICEF, the French Institute and the Croatian Cultural Society ‘Napredak’, the event focused on both the opportunities and risks associated with AI adoption in education. Discussions covered ethical use of AI, data protection, safeguarding learner well-being and maintaining educational integrity in digital environments.
Workshops provided hands-on training in AI tools, allowing participants to explore how the technology can be used responsibly and effectively in classroom settings. UNESCO also introduced multilingual resources on AI in education, aimed at improving access to practical guidance and best practices across the region.
The initiative highlighted a shared priority among educators: ensuring that AI supports human-centred learning while teachers remain central to delivering effective, inclusive and equitable education.
Why does it matter?
The integration of AI into education systems marks a structural shift in how learning is designed, delivered and evaluated, with implications that extend beyond classrooms into labour markets and civic participation. As governments and institutions experiment with AI tools, the key challenge is ensuring that efficiency gains do not come at the expense of equity, privacy and critical thinking.
Regional cooperation and shared ethical frameworks, such as those promoted by UNESCO, are therefore essential for preventing fragmented adoption and widening digital divides, while helping education systems remain adaptable, inclusive and centred on human development in an increasingly automated environment.
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