A successful start: First PROMOTES Summer School on ‘Education with and after AI’ at Ulm University
From 13 to 17 July 2026, the first PROMOTES Summer School on the topic of ‘Education with and after AI’ took place at Ulm University. Thirty-one students from Germany and four European partner countries came together to reflect on the role of artificial intelligence in education, develop innovative teaching concepts and test these directly in school settings.
International exchange and diverse perspectives
A total of 31 committed students took part in the intensive week-long course – including 17 students from Ulm University and 14 students from the European PROMOTES partner universities, partner institutions:
Norway: University of Stavanger & University of Bergen
Sweden: Karlstad University
Czech Republic: University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice
Croatia: University of Zagreb
This diverse international setting facilitated a fruitful exchange across different education systems and approaches to digital transformation.
Workshops and project-based work
The programme offered a balanced mix of subject-specific input and intensive teamwork. In a series of workshops, participants engaged in an in-depth exploration of the potential applications of artificial intelligence in the classroom. The focus was not only on specific tools, but also on fundamental questions: How is AI changing our understanding of knowledge and learning, and what impact does the technology have on our fundamental understanding of education?
Working in mixed international teams, the students spent the entire week collaborating on joint projects aimed at ensuring the pedagogically meaningful and critically reflective use of AI in everyday school life.
Highlight of the week: practical day at Helfenstein-Gymnasium
The absolute highlight of the week was the practical day at Helfenstein-Gymnasium in Geislingen. Thanks to the wonderful support from the school, led by Hildegund Holzknecht, our participants had the opportunity to test their projects in a real school setting with 10th and 11th-grade students. This hands-on testing provided the teams with valuable feedback and valuable insights for the further development of their concepts.
Community and social programme
There was also plenty of time for personal interaction and fun: thanks to a varied social programme featuring a group bowling evening, a guided tour of Ulm and a cosy games evening, the international group quickly bonded and many new connections and friendships were formed.
Looking ahead: Anticipation for 2027
We can look back on a thoroughly successful and inspiring start to the programme and are already looking forward to the next Summer School in 2027, which will also take place at Ulm University!
