On June 30, 2025, the Higher School of Transport (HST) in Sofia, Bulgaria hosted a live roundtable discussion as part of the EMPOWER AI project. The event brought together 23 participants, including academics, researchers, university lecturers, professionals, and consultants, to engage in an in-depth dialogue about the ethical integration of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative tools like ChatGPT, in higher education.

The roundtable focused on reviewing and discussing the draft version of the Ethical Guidelines for the Use of AI in Academia. Guided by ten key questions, the participants examined the structure, applicability, and ethical considerations of AI in educational settings. The discussions addressed pedagogical, institutional, and regulatory perspectives and emphasized the importance of transparency, accountability, and critical thinking in AI use.

Participants made several recommendations, including:

• Promoting AI literacy for both students and lecturers.
• Recognizing academic autonomy in ethical frameworks.
• Ensuring the Quality Management System oversees ethical AI use.
• Training educators to identify and manage inappropriate AI usage.
• Addressing potential risks to students' critical thinking and social skills.

The event underscored the urgent need for thoughtful national policies aligned with European legislation, and highlighted AI's dual role as both a pedagogical aid and a potential risk factor in academia.