Google AI tools like the Gemini app and NotebookLM are being utilized by educational establishments in the EMEA region to foster critical AI literacy, support teaching and learning, and increase efficiency. See how these universities and schools are finding innovative ways to apply AI.
Educational institutions across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) are increasingly leveraging Google AI tools, including Gemini and NotebookLM, to fundamentally transform teaching and learning. This widespread adoption is significantly enhancing efficiency, lightening workloads, and fostering crucial AI literacy among staff and students, preparing them for an AI-driven future. These powerful tools are enabling innovative approaches to teaching, learning, research, and administrative tasks.
K-12 Education: Transforming Classrooms and Reducing Workloads
From customizing learning materials to significantly reducing educator workloads, AI is helping to give time back to teaching. Read on to explore compelling case studies from institutions across EMEA that are embracing AI-powered tools like Gemini to create more dynamic and effective learning environments.
Helsingborg (Sweden): Customizing learning materials for students
Teachers in Helsingborg are experiencing significant improvements in efficiency and time savings through AI tools. Gemini is used to generate content and materials, accelerating tasks that previously took considerable time, allowing more focus on lesson planning and feedback. They also use AI to adapt material for specific student groups, customizing content to meet diverse learning needs, and renew lesson materials and generate example texts, enhancing the quality and relevance of teaching resources.
Barton Peveril (UK): Prioritizing employee education and comprehension Barton Peveril, a sixth-form college, has invested in Google Workspace with Gemini for all staff as part of their Digital Strategy. This proactive approach ensures staff are equipped with essential AI tools and skills, preventing the use of less secure open platforms. Their initiatives include regular training sessions to keep all staff updated on Gemini features, promoting best practices by fostering inter-departmental sharing of AI utilization, and dedicated AI inset days to showcase departmental AI applications through hands-on activities.
LEO Academy Trust (UK): Significant Workload Reduction for Educators
AI has profoundly impacted the professional lives of educators within the LEO Academy Trust, significantly reducing their workload and allowing them to focus on core functions. Emma Potter, Vice Principal at Cheam Park Farm, reported reduced time on parent communications, as AI enables school leaders to craft responses to parent emails in minutes rather than hours, a substantial saving given the volume of daily messages school leaders receive.
Higher Education
University of Jaén (Spain): Embedding AI as an Ethical Imperative
The University of Jaén exemplifies a proactive stance on AI adoption, providing free Gemini access to its entire community. They view AI literacy as an essential competency, believing it’s an ethical obligation to equip their students and staff for the future. Leveraging Gemini’s accessibility and seamless integration within the Google ecosystem, the university empowers its community to explore AI’s transformative potential. Their initiatives include using AI to automate exam generation, streamline the creation of assessments, optimize teaching services by analyzing data for efficient organization, assist with thesis review by providing support in evaluating master’s theses, and aid Governing Councils in enhancing decision-making processes.
AI literacy is no longer a peripheral skill but a fundamental competency for navigating the evolving landscape of education, research, and professional life.
Università di Cassino e del Lazio Meridionale (Italy): Seamless Integration and Practical Impact
For the Università di Cassino e del Lazio Meridionale, integrating the Gemini app was a natural progression due to their long-standing use of Google services. By assisting dyslexic students in creating visual mind maps for improved comprehension and streamlining administrative tasks for staff, NotebookLM has demonstrated significant impact by allowing them to query multiple documents for effective paperwork management. University of Ferrara (Italy): Championing Innovation and Responsible AI
As a public service university, the University of Ferrara is at the forefront of integrating AI to empower its personnel and professors. They consider AI literacy a shared responsibility. The deep integration of Gemini within their existing Google ecosystem ensures privacy, safety, and protection of intellectual property, making it an ideal fit for their needs.
