The Council of Europe has adopted a new recommendation on AI literacy.
With this, the organization calls on its 46 member states to better equip students, teachers, parents, workers and citizens of all ages to understand artificial intelligence (AI), use it responsibly and recognise where it can threaten human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
During the development of the recommendation, various experts were consulted, including Luuk Terbeek, strategic advisor on digital transformation in education at the VU Center for Teaching & Learning (CTL).
The final recommendation provides member states with a framework of 22 guiding principles organized around four themes: fundamental understanding of AI, human rights and human dignity, democracy and the rule of law, and civic engagement and critical thinking. In this regard, the recommendation aligns closely in several respects with the VU-UvA Task Force on AI in Education, the VU Digitalization Strategy 2026 - 2030, and the VU Strategy 2026 - 2030.
AI Literacy as a Shared Responsibility
A key principle of the recommendation is the importance of AI literacy. This principle aligns closely with the recommendations of the VU-UvA Task Force on AI in Education. This Task Force recommends that every faculty member and student be AI “literate.” Start by encouraging faculty to develop their professional expertise in AI literacy, so they can support their students in using AI in line with ethical values and their field of study, and so they can make critical judgments about where to allow AI and where not to.
TIP: The VU-UvA AI Maturity in Education Scan (AIMES) facilitates the development and refinement of AI literacy.
Alignment with the VU Digitalization Strategy 2026–2030
This recommendation is also aligned with the VU Digitalization Strategy 2026–2030. Both the Council of Europe and the VU approach AI not primarily from the perspective of what is technically possible, but from the question of how technology - which is never neutral - serves people and society. The recommendation emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and the preservation of human autonomy. It also states that AI literacy must enable people to continue to make independent judgments and take independent action. In line with the VU Digitalization Strategy, the recommendation warns against a decline in human skills due to excessive use of AI.
Alignment with the VU Strategy 2026–2030
The Council of Europe’s recommendation emphasizes that people must not only be able to use AI but must also be able to act independently and responsibly in a society where AI is exerting increasing influence. This aligns with the ambition articulated in the VU Strategy 2026–2030, which states that the VU aims to educate students to become responsible global citizens who look beyond their own position, interests, and perspective and contribute to a healthy, sustainable, and just world. This requires a reflective and active approach to life, which touches on themes such as social agency and critical thinking included in the Council of Europe’s recommendation. Both reject a purely technological approach; the VU Strategy states that technological developments must also be viewed through the lens of ethics and meaning, noting that “technology without a ‘soul’ or a vision of humanity rarely takes root in society.”
The Council of Europe describes AI as a sociotechnical phenomenon; it is not only the technology that matters, but also the people, institutions, policy choices, and society surrounding it. This broad perspective aligns with the VU’s vision on education, research, and societal impact, as well as its mission to equip students and staff to address complex societal issues based on both knowledge and values.
With this recommendation, the Council of Europe emphasizes the importance of AI literacy for pupils, students, teachers, professionals, and citizens. This aligns with the broad educational mission that the VU articulates in its 2026 - 2030 strategy: to equip people to act in a complex world based on knowledge, critical thinking, and social responsibility.
Read the full AI recommendation from the Council of Europe.
