International Conference “VR, AR and AI: Role in Higher Education” held in Nicosia Town Hall

As disruptive technologies appear in all sectors, the educational sector is not an exception. Such technologies are increasingly entering the sector, and yet many educators remain unsure about their most appropriate use, while students use them without fully understanding the potential consequences. Τhis phenomenon raises questions about the future of education and the challenges and opportunities that it can bring. Research conducted within the e-DIPLOMA project highlights that while technologies like VR, AR, and AI offer promising potential for experiential and practice-based learning, significant gaps remain in institutional capacities, collaborative design practices, and understanding of their full pedagogical impact. The findings emphasize a growing need to rethink how immersive and intelligent technologies can support holistic, inclusive, and effective learning in higher education. 

Touching upon this topic, the International Conference “VR, AR and AI: Role in Higher Education” brought together researchers and academics from universities across Europe with the aim of discussing and exploring the impact of Extended Reality (ΕR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Higher Education.

The conference took place on June 5, 2025, at the Nicosia Town Hall, and it was organised by the Center for Social Innovation (CSI) and the Horizon Europe project e-Diploma, under the auspices of the Nicosia Municipality. The event was coordinated by the Project Manager at CSI Kleovoulos Stylianou.

The opening of the conference was marked by the greetings of the Vice Mayor of Ayios Dometios Mr Constantionos Yiangou, on behalf of the Mayor of Nicosia, Mr Charalambos Prountzos as well as by the greeting of Mr. Demetris Hadjisofocli CEO of CSI, emphasizing the transfer of emerging technologies into the wider public to promote inclusiveness and progress. Followed by a dynamic panel discussion titled ‘Navigating disruptive technologies in Academic Environments’, the panelists offered insights from both technical and educational perspectives, sharing real-world examples of how immersive technologies enhance student engagement and comprehension. The expert panel -Dr. Kai Pata & Kärt Kase, University of Tallinn; Dr. Ricardo Marroquim, Delft University of Technology; Dr. László Szécsi, Budapest University of Technology and Economics- was moderated by Dr. Soteris Themistocleous, Director of the Strategic Development team at CSI. The discussion tackled critical questions around inclusivity, ethical use, application beyond science, and the shifting value of in-person learning. With thoughtful discussion on design, usability, and the future of academic integrity, the session concluded with a shared vision for how universities can responsibly integrate AI and VR to better serve both students and educators.

During the conference, the participants had the opportunity to learn about the findings of the e-DIPLOMA pilot study that explored how ethical considerations are assessed in technology-enhanced learning environments. The results were presented by Mr. Ruben García Vidal from the Jaume I University and Dr. Kai Pata from the University of Tallinn.

Finally, the coordinator of e-DIPLOMA and Director of the Institute of New Imaging Technologies at Jaume I University, Dr. Inmaculada Remolar, presented to the audience key findings and methodologies used during the e-Diploma research, including research methodologies and results, as well as prototypes used to measure the impact of disruptive technologies on learning outcomes.

The successful implementation of the conference was marked by the discussion that emerged from the 50 attendees, including representatives of European Universities, Cypriot public authorities in education and innovation, as well as private companies in the technology and design field. By fostering innovation, CSI continues to lead the way in creating innovative and inclusive solutions in education.

For more information about the conference, reach out to Kleovoulos.stylianou@csicy.com.

e-DIPLOMA website: https://e-diplomaproject.eu/

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CSI website: www.csicy.com