On June 27, 2025, the Technical University of Sofia held a national round table to discuss the draft Ethical Guidelines for the Use of AI in Academia, as part of Task 2.4 of the EmpowerAI project. The event brought together participants from various sectors of academia and the public landscape, including representatives from the Ministry of Education, regional education authorities, university leadership, faculty, and civil society organizations.
The round table served as a platform for discussions on the practicality, clarity, and completeness of the draft guidelines. Participants expressed strong support for the proposed structure and content, viewing the guidelines as a timely and essential framework for ethical AI integration in higher education. Several attendees highlighted the importance of clear rules in preventing academic misconduct, promoting transparency in AI-assisted research and learning, and ensuring compliance with national and international regulations. The participants appreciated the potential of the guidelines to unify institutional approaches to AI, especially in environments where faculty perspectives and practices vary widely. The document was praised for being well-organized, accessible, and conducive to reflective engagement with AI—aiming to enable students and staff to use these tools thoughtfully and responsibly, rather than as shortcuts or substitutes for critical thinking. Concerns were raised about the mechanisms for enforcing the guidelines and securing institutional commitment. While participants agreed on the importance of university-level standards, there was no consensus on whether these should be mandatory. Nonetheless, there was a clear call for an operational, “short-form” version of the document—easier to apply in daily academic settings.
The outcomes of the meeting were reinforced by a follow-up satisfaction survey distributed among participants from TUS and its project partner, the Higher School of Transport "Todor Kableshkov" (HST). The survey gathered feedback from 40 respondents, including external stakeholders from Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski," the Ministry of Education, SimRa CEE, the National Polytechnic Museum, and other academic institutions. Over 85% of participants rated the overall organization of the round table as “Excellent,” and nearly all felt their views were heard and respected. Furthermore, 90% indicated that the draft guidelines addressed the needs of their institutions.
The success of the round table validated the relevance and quality of the draft guidelines and strengthened the project’s collaborative approach to policy development in the era of artificial intelligence.
As the EmpowerAI project progresses toward finalizing the Ethical Guidelines and adapting them for implementation, the feedback collected during this event will be vital in ensuring that the final product aligns with genuine academic needs and helps institutions build a responsible digital future.