The University is rolling out new opportunities for students, placing generative artificial intelligence, innovative learning and student engagement at the heart of its academic project. Prof. Philippe Hiligsmann, Vice-rector for academic and student affairs, introduces initiatives that will shape the university of tomorrow. 

Exploring new horizons with AI in higher education

Generative artificial intelligence tools are gaining momentum in higher education. Uni.lu is committed to embrace innovation in this area, while setting high standards of accountability, ethics and transparency.

“By integrating AI into student life, we are paving the way for a more agile education with an outlook to the future reality,” says Philippe Hiligsmann. “Our objective is to better prepare students for the complex professional, scientific and societal challenges that they will face, during and after their studies. We also aim to shape a more personalised education, in which students can take more control over their learning.”

Training creative and responsible AI users

“At the start of this academic year, new students attended an introductory workshop on artificial intelligence. This ensures that all students have common essential understanding of AI. They can also sign up for a workshop to learn best practices in AI.” Students and teachers have access to a user guide for generative AI. These guidelines are designed to support digital learning while preserving academic integrity and data protection. 

“Beyond the use of these tools, we want to help students cultivate critical thinking, creativity and digital autonomy. In the longer term, I would like to set up a personalised AI agent that students can use for their courses, a kind of tailor-made learning assistance for each student. “ 

Releasing the innovative capacity of teachers

The teaching staff is at the same time a driving force and beneficiary of the integration of AI in education. “The way that people learn is changing and so must assessment. One of our priorities is therefore to rethink assessment and to implement innovative concepts that accompany the evolutions brought by new technologies. We are for instance considering oral examinations, but also new hybrid concepts bear interesting opportunities.”  

“Our teaching community is a hotbed for new ideas. Workshops will help channel this creative energy, in order to develop original concepts that are adapted to the challenges of the future,” says Philippe Hiligsmann.

‟ This recent technology is evolving rapidly and we realise its implications every day. Our role as university is to give students the ability to use these tools with critical thinking and assessment.”

Prof Philippe HILIGSMANN

Vice-Rector for Academic and Student Affairs

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The Institute for Innovative Teaching and Learning

The brand new Institute for Innovative Teaching and Learning (I²TL) will be the driving force behind these innovations. Through three cross-cutting pillars — continuing professional development for teachers, digital education and the educational innovation fund — the Institute aims to cultivate a dynamic ecosystem of educational innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration and active engagement. The new fund will finance bold educational projects, bringing to life ideas that will redefine the student experience. 

Student engagement, a pillar to be developed

“I came to the University of Luxembourg from the Catholic University of Louvain, which has a long history of highly autonomous student life. This experience is invaluable for quickly identifying opportunities to develop student life,” explains Philippe Hiligsmann. “Here, my goal is to give students the tools and incentives to take control of their own journey and bring their own energy to student life.” 

From now on, the Certificate of Student Engagement and Leadership recognises student engagement as an essential component of education: throughout the year, participation in extracurricular activities on campus will earn students extracurricular ECTS credits. The certificate of engagement is equivalent to 10 ECTS credits. 

Developing interdisciplinary teaching

Finally, Uni.lu’s academic project also prioritises interdisciplinarity, which is at the heart of the University’s vision. Interdisciplinary efforts enable us to address important and complex issues in our contemporary society, and pave the way for concrete and innovative solutions. 

“This interdisciplinary vision will be further reflected in our teaching. We therefore aim to develop new interdisciplinary study programmes at bachelor’s and master’s level.“