About Us
The DCU Centre for AI and Digital Futures in Education (AIDE) is an interdisciplinary research centre dedicated to advancing knowledge and understanding of how artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and digital innovation are shaping the future of education.
As AI and digital technologies rapidly transform teaching, learning, assessment, educational leadership, and policy, there is an increasing need for research that is rigorous, ethical, inclusive, and responsive to societal needs. AIDE brings together researchers from education, computer science, psychology, data science, languages, and related disciplines to examine both the opportunities and challenges presented by technological change.
Our work extends beyond the study of technology itself. We investigate how AI and digital innovations can be designed, implemented, evaluated, and governed in ways that enhance learning, support educators, promote inclusion, and contribute to positive educational and social outcomes.
Located within Dublin City University's Institute of Education, AIDE serves as a hub for research, collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange, connecting educators, researchers, policymakers, industry partners, and communities across Ireland and internationally.
Virtual Reality
Our Purpose
The Centre is driven by two interconnected aims:
1. Advancing Knowledge and Research
Artificial intelligence and digital technologies are transforming education at an unprecedented pace. However, many important questions remain unanswered. How can AI support learning while maintaining human agency? How can educators develop the competencies needed for an AI-enabled world? How can digital innovation promote inclusion rather than deepen inequalities? How should emerging technologies be governed responsibly?
AIDE addresses these questions through interdisciplinary research that brings together expertise across education, technology, data science, psychology, policy, and ethics. By fostering collaboration across disciplines, sectors, and countries, the Centre contributes to the development of robust evidence that informs both research and practice.
2. Shaping Better Educational Futures
Education systems worldwide are navigating profound technological, social, and economic change. The emergence of generative AI, immersive technologies, learning analytics, and new digital infrastructures presents significant opportunities, but also raises important questions relating to ethics, equity, wellbeing, governance, and trust.
AIDE seeks to ensure that educational futures are shaped by evidence rather than hype, and by human values rather than technology alone. Through research, professional learning, policy engagement, and public dialogue, the Centre supports the responsible and meaningful integration of AI and digital technologies across all stages of education.
Our Research Areas
The Centre's work is organised around six interconnected areas of expertise:
- AI Literacy and AI Pedagogy
- Digital Wellbeing and Inclusion
- Immersive and Simulation-Based Learning
- Policy, Ethics, and Governance
- Digital Learning Design and Open Education
- AI and Data Science for Education
Together, these themes enable AIDE to address the educational, technological, social, and policy dimensions of digital transformation.
Our Network
AIDE builds on a strong foundation of national and international partnerships, collaborative research projects, and engagement with education systems, policymakers, schools, and industry.
The Centre works closely with partners across Ireland, Europe, and beyond to develop research-informed solutions that address contemporary educational challenges. Through participation in international research networks and funded projects, AIDE contributes to global conversations about the future of education in an age of artificial intelligence.
Our Mission
The mission of the DCU Centre for AI and Digital Futures in Education is to lead world-class research that advances understanding of how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies can support teaching, learning, and educational transformation.
We aim to:
- Advance interdisciplinary research on AI and digital futures in education.
- Generate evidence that informs educational policy and practice.
- Support educators, learners, and leaders in developing digital and AI competencies.
- Promote ethical, inclusive, and human-centred approaches to technology adoption.
- Foster innovation through collaboration with schools, policymakers, communities, and industry.
- Shape educational futures that are equitable, responsible, and responsive to societal needs.
Why AIDE?
Education is experiencing one of the most significant periods of transformation in its history. Artificial intelligence is reshaping how we teach, learn, assess, and create knowledge, while broader digital developments—including immersive technologies, learning analytics, digital platforms, and emerging forms of communication—are changing educational experiences and institutions in profound ways.
These developments bring exciting opportunities for innovation, inclusion, and lifelong learning. They also raise important questions about ethics, wellbeing, governance, equity, trust, and the future role of educators and learners.
AIDE provides a trusted and interdisciplinary space where researchers, educators, policymakers, technology experts, and communities can work together to understand and shape these changes. Through research, collaboration, and public engagement, the Centre seeks to ensure that AI and digital innovation support education in ways that are evidence-informed, human-centred, socially responsible, and aligned with the public good.
By bringing together expertise across education, technology, data science, policy, and society, AIDE is helping to shape the digital futures of education, locally, nationally, and globally.