Artificial intelligence: a groundbreaking agreement to raise awareness and train schoolchildren
On Monday, November 6, 2023, Sophie Béjean, Rector of the Occitanie academic region, Marc Sztulman, Regional Councilor and representative of the Occitanie/Pyrénées-Méditerranée Region, Claudine Vassas-Mejri, Vice President of the Hérault Departmental Council, Michaël Delafosse, Mayor of Montpellier, and Philippe Augé, President of the University of Montpellier, signed a collective commitment agreement for raising awareness and training schoolchildren in artificial intelligence (AI). This joint commitment, bringing together representatives of the State, the University, and all local authorities, as well as voluntary associations and companies, is a sign of the very strong collective momentum in Montpellier to promote AI issues.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has recently made a particularly strong and visible incursion into all fields with the arrival of Generative Artificial Intelligence. Destined to transform a large part of practices and professions, it requires an informed view of each of these transformations. Convinced that this insight must be provided from an early age to combat any misuse and that it must be based on scientifically established knowledge, widely disseminated using appropriate teaching methods, the signatories mutually commit to taking action to explain, illustrate, and debate.
An agreement that is fully in line with UM's overall AI strategy
This agreement is part of a response to the France 2030 call for expressions of interest "AI Cluster: world-class research and training centers in artificial intelligence," for which the application submitted by the UM "vIA-UM" was shortlisted last July. At a time marked by high risks of misinformation and declining motivation among young people to pursue scientific studies and careers, it is important for the University of Montpellier to commit to the Occitanie academic region to help ensure that every teacher and every student has all the knowledge they need to inform their relationship with new methods of artificial intelligence. This agreement will lead to concrete actions.
While it plans to conduct cutting-edge research projects in artificial intelligence and create the conditions for the widespread use of artificial intelligence in an ethical, sovereign, and responsible manner, it also aims to raise awareness and educate all audiences about the challenges and impacts of artificial intelligence.
This agreement is part of the third phase of the vIA-UM project. It aims to reinforce the actions already undertaken by the University of Montpellier to train and raise awareness among teachers and students in three areas:
- Raise awareness and discuss the challenges of artificial intelligence, focusing in particular on combating all forms of discrimination and misinformation, and raising awareness of the environmental and societal impact of digital technology in general and AI in particular.
- Provide training on the uses and application of AI, illustrating with concrete examples, providing all forms of testimonials, and organizing meetings with concrete achievements.
- Provide training in the scientific, technical, regulatory, and ethical foundations of AI, with a particular focus on encouraging girls to participate.
The University of Montpellier, with its strong research and training in artificial intelligence, both at the heart of mathematical and computer science methods, but also for artificial intelligence with a strong impact on societal issues such as "Feeding, Caring, Protecting," is now committed to continuing and strengthening its ties with partners to spread the culture of artificial intelligence.
The commitments and involvement of partners
The city of Montpellier and the department are committed to continuing their efforts to provide environments and equipment that enable activities to be carried out.
The Occitanie Region is committed, on the one hand, to continuing its efforts to provide the resources needed to promote initiatives, digital work environments, and IT equipment. On the other hand, through regular calls for projects or in connection with its dedicated venues, the Region is committed to continuing to develop awareness-raising and training initiatives in participatory science and the attractiveness of the jobs of tomorrow, particularly in the field of AI.
These commitments may be used during school hours and extracurricular activities, as well as to support associations in the context of recognized projects, for example by the digital education territory in Hérault (TNE34).
The academic region is committed to promoting training initiatives in artificial intelligence for those involved in education (IA-DASEN, inspectors, school principals, and teachers) and students. In addition, it will distribute information to schools to raise awareness of initiatives that may promote awareness and training among teachers and students.