On 8 and 9 October 2025, the Council of Europe held the 3rd working conference on artificial intelligence (AI) and education, entitled “Ensuring quality education in the AI era – Introducing the Council of Europe Compass for AI and education”.

Bringing together policy makers, educators, academics, experts and representatives of civil society and the private sector, the event explored how AI can be implemented responsibly and ethically in education, and how it can support quality learning and democratic values across Europe.

The conference introduced the Council of Europe “Compass for AI and education” (the Compass), a practical framework designed to translate Council of Europe standards into concrete guidance for member states, educational institutions, teachers, students and private sector actors. The Compass is structured around four components: AI literacy, regulation and governance, teaching, learning and assessment with AI, and the evaluation of educational technologies.

Participants took part in interactive “policy labs” to explore the practical application of the Compass’s components. These sessions enabled attendees to contribute directly to the Council of Europe’s work by sharing insights, identifying challenges and co-designing approaches to implementation at national and local levels. The conference also provided a platform to discuss the draft Committee of Ministers recommendation on AI literacy, ongoing work on a legal instrument to regulate AI in education and the development of a policy toolbox and evaluation frameworks to support evidence-based and rightsaligned practice.

The event reaffirmed the importance of dialogue, shared learning and forward planning. A strong consensus emerged on the need for collaborative, human-centred approaches to AI in education, grounded in the Council of Europe’s core values: human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The conference marked an important step towards ensuring that AI contributes to, rather than undermines, inclusive and quality education for all.