Symposium on Using Artificial Intelligence in Sustainability Teaching and Learning
12/06/2025 - 13/06/2025
Sustainability has become a critical area of focus globally. As the world grapples with climate change, resource depletion, and environmental degradation, there is an urgent need for education systems to incorporate sustainability principles. Educators need innovative tools to teach these complex topics effectively, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) can provide some of these tools. AI can personalise learning experiences, making them more engaging and effective. For example, AI-powered tools can adapt content to match students’ learning styles, provide real-time feedback, and facilitate immersive simulations of sustainable practices. These capabilities can significantly enhance students’ understanding and retention of sustainability concepts.
AI also helps analyse large datasets to provide insights into environmental patterns and trends. Educators can use these insights to develop more accurate and relevant teaching materials. Additionally, AI can help students learn how to interpret and use data in their sustainability projects, fostering critical thinking and analytical skills. The future workforce will increasingly require skills in both AI and sustainability.
The “Symposium on Using Artificial Intelligence in Sustainability Teaching and Learning” is being prepared based on the perceived need to better understand how to leverage AI in sustainability efforts to the advantage of teaching staff and students.
The event is being organised by MEF University, Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences, Istanbul, Türkiye, theEuropean School of Sustainability Science and Research (ESSSR), the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme (IUSDRP) and the European-North American Sustainability Research Consortium (ENASRC).
Aims of the event
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The “Symposium on Using Artificial Intelligence in Sustainability Teaching and Learning” aims to gather experts, academics, industry leaders, and policy-makers to discuss approaches, methods, tools, and strategies for deploying AI in efforts to promote sustainable development as a whole and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in particular in the context of higher education.
It will:
a) Present current initiatives on AI on sustainability in higher education.
b) Discuss current strategies and strategic plans for integrating AI and
Sustainability into university operations and curricula.
c) Introduce collaborative initiatives and ongoing collaboration between
universities, industries, and communities.
d) Debate the effectiveness of current policies to support AI use in Sustainability in higher education.
e) Exchange ideas on how to steer students’ involvement and use of AI in Sustainability projects, preventing undesirable effects.
Some key topics
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* Introducing AI tools and techniques
* Practical AI applications in sustainability teaching and learning.
* AI and curriculum development
* Collaborative initiatives that leverage AI for sustainability education.
Other themes are also welcome.
Target audience
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The Symposium will be of particular interest to academics, researchers, administrators, policy-makers, and students, who will explore together the critical role of AI in promoting sustainable development teaching and research.
Format of the Symposium
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* Plenary presentations and discussions: Key speakers from academia and the governmental sectors will provide a multi-perspective view of the challenges and solutions associated with AI and sustainable development in a higher education context.
* Parallel sessions: presentations on innovative courses, initiatives, and programmes, including student engagement.
This symposium will provide a valuable academic platform for the community to exchange ideas and pave the way for more cooperation in the field of AI and sustainable development.
Publication opportunity
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The experiences of the presenters will be documented and promoted in the International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education.
Founded in 2000, IJSHE is the only journal that specifically focuses on sustainability issues in a higher education context. All papers are subject to peer review, and there is no guarantee that submitted papers will be published. Authors should present their papers at the event, get feedback, and then submit their papers by 30 June 2025.
Profile of participants
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The Symposium will be of particular interest to researchers, educators, students and communication specialists interested in and working in the field of AI and sustainable development in higher education.
How to attend the Symposium
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There are two possibilities for attending the symposium:
1. By only attending the symposium (without a paper presentation): please register on this website and complete all the required details: https://www.eventbrite.de/e/using-artificial-intelligence-in-sustainability-teaching-and-learning-tickets-959113192377?aff=oddtdtcreator
2. By presenting a paper: Researchers may submit any complete, original and unpublished research papers, either conceptual or empirical. The Turnitin similarity index must be below 20%. To participate, participants need to submit an abstract of 200 to 300 words, along with the authors’ names and full contact details, before 30th November 2024. Full papers are due by 30th June 2025.
Abstracts should be submitted by using the following registration form: https://forms.office.com/e/2pHrV2HNv7
How to register
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Please register on this website and complete all the required details: https://www.eventbrite.de/e/using-artificial-intelligence-in-sustainability-teaching-and-learning-tickets-959113192377?aff=oddtdtcreator
For those who submitted an abstract: The authors will receive an email with the registration and payment details. In case you already want to proceed with it, please register on this website and complete all the required details: https://www.eventbrite.de/e/using-artificial-intelligence-in-sustainability-teaching-and-learning-tickets-959113192377?aff=oddtdtcreator
Registration fees
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A registration fee of Euro 290 will be charged to delegates to offset some of the preparation costs. It includes the coffee breaks and lunches on the two days.
Contact details
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All questions related to scientific inputs and strategic partnerships should be sent to:
Professor Walter Leal (BSc, PhD, DSc, DPhil, DEd, DLitt, FSB, FRGS, FLS)
European School of Sustainability Science and Research (ESSSR)
esssr (at) haw-hamburg (dot) de
All questions regarding accommodations and city information should be sent to:
Professor Semen Son Turan (BA, MBA, PhD)
Dean, Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences
MEF University
sons (at) mef.edu (dot) tr
All questions related to abstracts and registrations should be sent to:
Laís Trevisan
Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
Research and Transfer Centre „Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management”
European School of Sustainability Science and Research
Ulmenliet 20
21033 Hamburg
Germany
lais.vieratrevisan (at) haw-hamburg (dot) de / FTZ-Events (at) haw-hamburg (dot) de