As part of the Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE 2026), the EmpowerAI project contributed a pre-conference workshop titled “From Principles to Practice: Training Faculty for Ethical AI Use in Higher Education.” The workshop took place in Paphos, Cyprus and was delivered by Assoc. Prof. Vladislav Slavov from the Technical University of Sofia, project coordinator of EmpowerAI, together with Prof. Yanjun Yan from Western Carolina University.

The session focused on the ethical use of artificial intelligence in higher education and introduced participants to practical frameworks for responsible AI use in teaching, learning, assessment, and academic practice. In addition to presenting key principles from the EmpowerAI Guidelines, the workshop followed the training curriculum developed within the project and included a case-based activity in which participants analysed realistic academic dilemmas and proposed ethically justified responses.

The workshop attracted participants from institutions across France, Germany, Austria, Estonia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Macau, reflecting strong international interest in the topic. The discussion confirmed the need for practical guidance that helps faculty move beyond abstract principles and apply ethical reasoning in real educational settings.

We thank all participants for their active engagement and valuable contributions to the discussion.