The Institute for Ethical
AI in Education

Developing the Ethical Framework for AI in Education

Please note: The work for this institute is now complete; the final report is available to read, and any future enquiries should be directed to the School of Computing.

The Institute for Ethical Al in Education was conceived by Sir Anthony Seldon, Priya Lakhani OBE, and Professor Rose Luckin in the summer of 2018, and launched in October of that year, with the aim of developing an ethical framework that would enable all learners to benefit optimally from AI in education, whilst also being protected against the known risks this technology presents. The Institute has been chaired by Lord Tim Clement-Jones, and its day-to-day operations have been led by Tom Moule.

After a programme of wide consultation, the Institute has now published The Ethical Framework for AI in Education (see below), which draws upon the insights of a wide range of stakeholders that were heard during a series of roundtables and at The Global Summit on the Ethics of AI in Education. The Framework brings together their views and values, and is designed to support leaders and practitioners in any educational setting to make decisions related to the procurement and application of Al in education.

Adopting a simple structure, the Framework sets out the principles underlying the ethical use of Al in education, and states the actions that leaders and practitioners should take in order to help ensure that they are procuring and applying Al in an ethical way.

The Institute has now concluded its 2.5 year task, and is no longer operating. That said, the need to apply ethical principles to AI in education will only grow year on year.

The Ethical Framework for AI in Education

  • Final Report
  • Annex to the Final Report
  • Disclaimer: The Ethical Framework for AI in Education is not provided as advice. The Institute for Ethical AI in Education does not guarantee the Framework’s fitness for purpose and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, The Institute for Ethical AI in Education will not accept any liability for any damage or loss arising from the use of The Framework.

    Thank you to all those who took part in the roundtable series

    Further Reports from the Institute

    Funding of The Institute for Ethical AI in Education

    The Institute’s work has been funded by McGraw Hill, Microsoft Corporation, Nord Anglia Education, Pearson PLC; and by a discretionary grant from John Fairbairn at Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.

    Please see the document below for information on how decisions around funding are made.

    The Advisory Council and The International Advisory Group

    The Advisory Council:

    Geoff Barton, Professor Maggie Boden, Fiona Boulton, Sherry Coutu, Avnish Dhesi, Billy Downie, Vivienne Durham, Joseph Fatheree, Gi Fernando, Gayle Gorman, Sir Mark Grundy, Sharon Hague, RT Hon. Robert Halfon, Timo Hannay, Peter Horrocks, Kate Jones, Alexa Joyce, Lord Jim Knight, Professor Sonia Livingstone, Ann Mroz, Essie North, Ndidi Okezie, Sir Tim O’Shea, Lord David Puttnam, Saima Rana, Professor Geraint Rees, Jacqueline de Rojas, Nick Saville, Mark Steed, Roger Taylor, and Professor Alan Winfield.

    The International Advisory Group:

    Seth Bergeson, Professor Violetta Cavalli-Sforza, David Christie, Richard Culatta, José Escamilla, Professor Peter Goodyear, Professor Nancy Law, Professor Hagit Messer-Yaron, Professor Illah R. Nourbakhsh, Marta Ponikowska, Cristina Pozzi, Andreas Schleicher, Thierry de Vulpillières

    Please note The Institute for Ethical AI in Education updated the Ethical Framework on 25th March 2021, to enhance clarity around the need to comply with relevant frameworks to ensure that the use of pupil data for the stated purposes is permitted. Please use the up-to-date version, which is available here on the Institute’s website.