From 2 March to 3 April 2026, the CVEinAI Pilot Course will officially launch its first delivery cycle, inaugurating a five-week Critical Virtual Exchange (CVE) that brings together young learners from Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe to explore Artificial Intelligence through dialogue, critical reflection, and collaborative learning.
Developed under the leadership of UNICollaboration, within the framework of the EU-funded CVEinAI project, the course is designed to create a shared learning space where participants can engage with peers from different cultural and educational contexts, question assumptions, and strengthen their ability to discuss AI in a thoughtful, responsible, and socially aware way. By combining structured exchanges with guided activities, the pilot aims to support meaningful conversation on how AI affects societies, individuals, and communities—across regions and lived experiences.
The pilot will be offered in a hybrid format, balancing live interaction and independent learning. Each week, learners will take part in one live online session (1.5 hours) and complete approximately 3.5 hours of asynchronous work, for a total commitment of around 5 hours per week. This structure is meant to keep the exchange interactive and engaging, while also giving participants the time to reflect and contribute at their own pace.
For this pilot phase, the course involves the seven CVEinAI full partner universities – the University of Padua (Italy), the Technical University of Denmark (Denmark), the University of Botswana (Botswana), the Adama Science and Technology University (Ethiopia), Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (Ethiopia) and the Maseno University (Kenya) – and is open to students aged 18–30.
Throughout the five weeks, participants will have the opportunity to strengthen a set of key competencies that are increasingly essential in today’s digital world, including intercultural communication, AI ethics, critical and analytical thinking, and digital transversal skills.
Importantly, this first edition is conceived as a pilot: its primary purpose is to test the delivery approach and learning experience, and to gather feedback from participants so the partnership can fine-tune and strengthen the course ahead of a broader release. The pilot represents a crucial step toward ensuring the programme is as effective, inclusive, and impactful as possible when scaled up.
Looking ahead, all eligible students (18–30) from any institution based in the project’s partner countries will be warmly welcomed to join future editions.
Stay tuned!