A few words from the project coordinator (UAH)
The University of Alcalá (UAH) is honored to be the coordinator of the Trustworthy AI project and of such an outstanding partner consortium. Our institution is a leading university in Spain. It is located in the city of Alcalá de Henares, 35 km northeast of Madrid, which was named a World Heritage site by UNESCO in December 1998, in recognition of the fact that Alcalá was the first planned university town in the World. The university comprises 15 faculties and schools teaching over 20,000 undergraduate students in 40 degree programmes and 4,000 post-graduate students in 86 masters and doctorate programmes. The university employs 1712 permanent teaching and research staff and 834 non-teaching staff. Ongoing education is a strong feature of our work: we have 8000+ students who currently participate in expert and continuous education. Across all our students, approximately 60% are women.
The university will be represented in the project by the Intelligence, innovation, internet and information (I4) group, previously known as the Information Engineering Research Unit (IERU), within the Computer Science Department. It is one of the most active groups in the University of Alcalá, having produced weighty research activity in several fields in the last 15 years, with significant output in terms of scientific knowledge and funding. Given its extensive research and transfer history, we have not only the experience and background in coordinating and participating in projects at both national and international scope, but also strong links with the technology transfer office at UAH, a key link between the university research groups and the industry. The group has an intense activity in innovation in teaching and learning, we have a long record of research in learning technology and on-line instructional design, having coordinated and participated in many European and national projects in these topics. Members of the I4 group also teach at courses for public servants at higher levels at INAP, the National Institute in charge of the official training of employees of the public administrations and are currently consulting for the National Agency of Data Protection (AEPD, Agencia Española de Protección de Datos) on blockchain and GDPR.
Through these projects, we have developed a keen understanding that a digital divide exists and could widen if we continue to support a division between STEM subjects and the worlds of business and employment. Digital skills must not be confined to computer science and engineering faculties, but must be seen as transversal technical and non-technical abilities that enable individuals from all walks of life to flourish in an increasingly digital world. To that intent, we will not only coordinate the whole project, but we will specifically lead the last IO, IO3, developing a guide to conducting Ethical Artificial Intelligence hackathons that will guide teachers on how to use this innovative methodology to help consolidate students’ skills based on real life business and social problems.
Looking forward to the results of the Trustworthy AI project and to be able to share all the outputs with the Higher Education comminity as soon as possible!
